After thunderstorms delayed kickoff at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico quickly asserted dominance. Julián Quiñones struck in the 22nd minute with a superb finish into the top corner, his third goal of the tournament.
Nine minutes later, Mexico doubled their lead when Quiñones forced a turnover and set up Raúl Jiménez, who calmly slotted home. Ecuador controlled possession in the second half but failed to break down Mexico’s disciplined defense.
Deep into stoppage time, Piero Hincapié was sent off after a VAR review under the tournament’s new law penalizing players for covering their mouths during confrontations.
Mexico completed a perfect FIFA World Cup group campaign after defeating Czech Republic 3-0 at the Azteca Stadium, confirming their place in the knockout stages as Group A winners.
With this win, Softfootball understands Mexico advance to the Round of 16, where they will face the winner of England vs. DR Congo.
Player Ratings
Mexico
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Raúl Rangel | 7.0 |
| Jorge Sánchez | 7.0 |
| Johan Vásquez | 7.5 |
| César Montes | 7.5 |
| Jesús Gallardo | 6.5 |
| Gilberto Mora | 7.0 |
| Luis Romo | 7.0 |
| Érik Lira | 6.5 |
| Roberto Alvarado | 7.5 |
| Raúl Jiménez | 7.5 |
| Julián Quiñones | 8.5 (Player of the Match) |
| Subs: Santiago Giménez (6.0), Israel Reyes (6.0), Orbelín Pineda (6.0), Obed Vargas (6.0), Brian Gutiérrez (6.5) |
Ecuador
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Hernán Galíndez | 5.5 |
| Alan Franco | 5.5 |
| Willian Pacho | 6.5 |
| Joel Ordóñez | 5.0 |
| Piero Hincapié | 5.5 (Red Card) |
| John Yeboah | 7.0 |
| Moisés Caicedo | 6.5 |
| Pedro Vite | 6.0 |
| Nilson Angulo | 6.5 |
| Enner Valencia | 5.5 |
| Gonzalo Plata | 6.0 |
| Subs: Ángelo Preciado (6.5), Jordy Caicedo (6.0), Kevin Rodríguez (6.0), Kendry Páez (6.0), Yaimar Medina (6.0) |
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Mexico | Ecuador |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 47% | 53% |
| Total Shots | 12 | 9 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 3 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.76 | 0.92 |
| Fouls Committed | 13 | 15 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 3 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 1 |
| Corners | 5 | 4 |
| Saves | 3 | 3 |
