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Quinones scored a spectacular goal to break the deadlock for Mexico. Photo: Getty.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms in Mexico City caused this highly anticipated match to be delayed by an hour. However, the weather disruption could not dampen the fervent atmosphere from all four sides of the Azteca Stadium.

Immediately after the opening whistle, the Mexican players surged forward, creating a series of dangerous opportunities. 17-year-old prodigy Gilberto Mora played with immense confidence, constantly disrupting the opposing defense with his elegant ball control.

The opening goal came as an inevitable consequence of the suffocating pressure Mexico exerted early on. In the 22nd minute, from a delicate chipped pass by Roberto Alvarado, Julian Quinones cleverly beat the offside trap and raced down to finish decisively into the Ecuador net. The lead allowed El Tri to play with even more confidence, while their South American opponents began to show signs of confusion.

Before they could recover from the first goal, the Ecuadorian defense made another fatal mistake just minutes later. In the 31st minute, taking advantage of a misplaced clearance by defender Willian Pacho, Raul Jimenez seized the ball and combined effectively with Quinones. The veteran striker then unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner, doubling the lead. The Aztec warriors' attacking performance in the first half was extremely impressive, converting every opportunity into a goal.

In the second half, the home team completely dominated the game thanks to their extremely disciplined and well-organized defense. Coach Sebastian Beccacece tried to make substitutions to strengthen Ecuador's firepower, but all his efforts were unsuccessful. The attacking stars of the visiting team, such as Enner Valencia and Gonzalo Plata, were completely isolated by Mexico's intense pressing from midfield. Goalkeeper Rangel's excellent performance also frustrated the Mexican strikers.

All hopes of a comeback for the South American representatives officially ended in injury time when they were reduced to 10 men. Defender Piero Hincapie, recently signed by Arsenal , received a direct red card from referee Slavko Vinčić after headbutting an opposing striker and using inappropriate language while covering his mouth.

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A mistake by the Ecuadorian defender allowed Mexico to take a 2-0 lead in just 31 minutes. Photo: Getty.

The match concluded amidst the overwhelming joy of tens of thousands of fans in the stadium, marking a new historical milestone for Mexican football at the biggest event on the planet. Prior to this, they had also achieved the milestone of topping the group after a 24-year wait.

To learn more about the Mexican national team at the 2026 World Cup , readers can refer to the article: Javier Aguirre's versatility helps Mexico dream of breaking their jinx at the 2026 World Cup.

Final score : Mexico 2-0 Ecuador

Goalscorers : Mexico: Quinones (22'), Jimenez (31')

Red card : Piero Hincapie (90+5')

Starting lineup:

Mexico defeats Ecuador, ending a 40-year World Cup curse.