Mexico booked their place in the World Cup last 16 with an impressive 2-0 victory over Ecuador after a thunderstorm delayed kick-off by an hour at the Azteca Stadium.
First-half goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez sealed a deserved win for the tournament co-hosts, who controlled the match from start to finish and secured their first knockout-stage victory at a World Cup since 1986.
Javier Aguirre’s side will now remain in Mexico City for their round-of-16 encounter on Sunday, where they will face either England or DR Congo.
Despite the weather disruption, Mexico wasted no time taking control once play began. Roared on by more than 80,000 supporters, they created four clear opportunities within the opening 10 minutes and overwhelmed Ecuador with relentless attacking pressure.
Ecuador briefly threatened when John Yeboah struck the woodwork, but Mexico continued to dominate possession and chances.
Their breakthrough arrived when Colombia-born winger Julian Quinones burst forward from the left, cut inside and fired a powerful finish beyond goalkeeper Hernan Galindez into the roof of the net. It was his third goal of the tournament.
Quinones then turned creator for Mexico’s second. After Ecuador defender Joel Ordonez lost possession near his own penalty area, Raul Jimenez punished the mistake with a clinical strike into the top corner.
Ecuador improved after the interval and enjoyed more possession, but they struggled to create meaningful opportunities. Gonzalo Plata came closest to pulling one back, sending a flick narrowly wide of the post.
The match ended on a frustrating note for Ecuador when defender Piero Hincapie was shown a red card during stoppage time after covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent, becoming only the second player at this World Cup to be dismissed for that offence.
Mexico’s perfect tournament record remains intact, with four victories from four matches, eight goals scored and none conceded.
The result also continued their remarkable record at the Azteca Stadium, where they have won 70 of 89 competitive matches while suffering only two defeats. Their World Cup history at the iconic venue is equally impressive, with the team still unbeaten in 10 finals matches played there across the 1970, 1986 and current tournaments.
The packed stadium created a vibrant atmosphere long before kick-off, helping inspire another energetic display from the hosts. Mexico’s familiarity with the Azteca’s altitude of more than 2,000 metres above sea level could also prove a significant advantage in the next round, where either England or DR Congo will have to cope with conditions far different from those experienced in most international matches.