MEXICO CITY — Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout-stage victory, defeating Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday to reach the Round of 16 and spark celebrations across the country.
Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored within nine first-half minutes as El Tri finally broke the hoodoo that had seen them eliminated in seven consecutive knockout-stage matches since their last victory at the 1986 World Cup on home soil.
Mexico will face the winner of Wednesday’s match between England and Congo in the Round of 16, again at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
“It means a lot to me because I am one of those who could not progress in the knockout stage,” coach Javier Aguirre said. “We are in the Round of 16 and there is a great connection with the fans. We are like a family. It is spectacular.”
Aguirre was a starting midfielder when Mexico beat Bulgaria in the Round of 16 at the 1986 World Cup — the country’s previous knockout victory. He later served as an assistant coach in 1994 and led El Tri at the 2002 and 2010 tournaments, both ending in Round-of-16 exits.
The expanded 48-team World Cup introduced a Round of 32 before the traditional Round of 16, but Mexico’s victory still marked its first win in the knockout rounds in four decades.
Quiñones gave the hosts the lead in the 22nd minute before Jiménez doubled the advantage nine minutes later.
The goal was Quiñones’ third of the tournament, making the Saudi Pro League striker Mexico’s joint second-highest scorer in World Cup history alongside Luis “Matador” Hernández and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, who each scored four goals.
“I am just happy with the result. That is all that matters now,” said Quiñones, who is playing in his first World Cup for Mexico after becoming a naturalized citizen in 2023.
“Life is about struggle and fighting until you get what you want, and I am taking full advantage of the opportunity that I got.”
Jiménez’s goal was his second of the tournament and the 47th of his international career, moving him ahead of Jared Borgetti into second place on Mexico’s all-time scoring list. He is now five goals behind Chicharito Hernández’s national record.
Mexico extended its unbeaten run to 12 matches and maintained its impressive record at Estadio Azteca, where it remains unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches.
The victory also made Mexico the first CONCACAF nation to eliminate a South American opponent in a World Cup knockout match.
Kickoff was delayed by one hour because of a thunderstorm, marking the second weather-related delay of the tournament after the France-Iraq match in Philadelphia was suspended for more than two hours during halftime.
The celebrations after the final whistle stretched far beyond the stadium, with thousands of fans gathering along Mexico City’s Reforma Avenue and in fan zones across the country to celebrate El Tri’s long-awaited breakthrough.
Source: Saudi Gazette