It took 40 years for Mexico to play five matches in a World Cup again. Just like in the 1986 edition, which was also hosted by them, the Mexicans became strong, if we may say so, at the Estadio Azteca and defeated 2-0 a weakened Ecuador that was far from the level shown recently against Germany.
The home team would start by dominating possession and making the first attempts on the rival goal, including a header from Raúl Giménez alone in the 6th minute that went wide and a shot from Gilberto Mora in the 15th that would go close to the right post of Hernán Galíndez.
For their part, the visitors would also have their chances and would respond, for example, with a great shot from John Yeboah in the 17th that hit the left post of Raúl Rangel.
Shortly after this warning, the Mexicans would score the first goal of the night. In the 21st, with an excellent assist from Roberto Alvarado, he would set Julián Quiñones running, who would enter the Ecuadorian area and, after a pause, would take a deadly shot to make it 1-0.
And they wouldn't stop there, as shortly after the first cooling break they would reach the second. In the 30th, defender Joel Ordóñez would clear poorly and gift it to Raúl Giménez, who, after touching and receiving the ball back from Quiñones, would hit a powerful right-footed shot from the edge of the area to make it 2-0.
With the score against them, the South Americans would seek a goal before halftime to keep them alive for the second half. In that sense, during the last stretch of the first half, they would get a clear opportunity to cut the deficit: an attempt by Yeboah in the 39th deflected by Rangel to a corner kick.
Although Ecuador would start slightly more proactive in the second half to score their first goal, Mexico would be the one closer to marking their third, when in the 66th, Alvarado would cross from the corner for César Montes' header on goal, but Galíndez would save it with a providential punch.
The final segment of the match would show Sebastián Becaccece's team as the clear dominators, keeping Javier Aguirre's players pinned against their own area; however, they would completely lack effectiveness in attack and even suffer some isolated chances from their opponent.
With practically no chance of even equalizing, towards the end, due to the heated scoreline and the adverse situation, Piero Hincapie would foolishly see a direct red for covering his mouth while speaking to Santiago Giménez (Prestianni Law), marking the last notable intervention of the match.
With this result, Mexico will finally play their long-awaited fifth match, although it will only be in the round of 16, a stage they have reached several times before. Beyond this detail, they will now face the winner of the match between England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo next Sunday, July 5 at 21:00 (Argentina time), again at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
