Co-host Mexico dispatched Ecuador 2-0 at Mexico City's historic Azteca venue on Tuesday night, punching its first ticket to a World Cup round of 16 since 1986. A lightning system rolling through the capital pushed kickoff back roughly an hour, but once play started, El Tri needed only half a match to settle things.
Julián Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, cutting inside off a long ball from Roberto Alvarado and finishing from just outside the box. Mexico doubled its advantage nine minutes later when Ecuador coughed up possession in its own half; Raúl Jiménez pounced on the loose ball, exchanged passes with Quiñones, and buried the return feed. By halftime, Mexico had piled up ten shot attempts to Ecuador's two or three, a lopsided total that made the scoreline feel inevitable well before the break.
