by Craig Laycock
Original article:
Mexico 2 - 0 Sweden
Quiñones (22'), Jimenez (31')
In what was probably one of the noisiest encounters at the World Cup yet, Mexico used home advantage to their great advantage to nullify Ecuador with an overwhelming performance on and off the pitch and record their first World Cup knock-out win for 40 years and end Ecuador's dream.
Even a one-hour delay to kick-off for the weather didn't deter the crowd.
Mexico controlled the early possession, with young talent Gilberto Mora causing all kinds of problems on the left hand side of Ecuador’s defence.
Indeed, the 17-year-old had the best effort of the opening exchanges after popping up on the left, collecting a loose ball and whipping in a fantastic shot which just wouldn’t quite curve inside the far post. Agonisingly close for the youngest player at the tournament.
Down at the other end, Ecuador broke against the run of play, as Gonzlao Plata ran away with the ball, with John Yeboah ending up on the end of a Hincapie pass. His fierce shot appeared to be tipped onto the post by Mexico’s goalkeeper Rangel, but no corner was awarded.
Then it was Mexico’s turn to break. Quinones broke free onto a ball in the left channel, drove forwards and smashed a right footed shot into the roof of the net. A top finish. A net-bulger.
And just 10 minutes later, Mexico were in again. Ecuador blundered possession on the edge of the box with the ball falling to Jimenez. After a one two with goalscorer Quinones, he smashed one into the top corner. 2-0.
In the 39th minute, Yeboah had a great effort for Ecuador with a strike from range that was pushed away at full stretch from Rangel.
As the second half got underway, Ecuador looked to control the ball more, but a wild shot over the bar from Vite from around 25 yards out characterised the approach as they appeared to frustratedly snatch at half-chances.
Mexico defended brilliantly, and not just in their box but throughout a mid block, which served to continue to drain Ecuador’s belief in front of the extremely partisan Mexican crowd at the Azteca.
And they almost had a third as Montes connected with a header powerfully from a corner, but Galindez pulled off a great save in the Ecuador goal. From the follow up corner, he did it again, this time heading just wide. A handful for the Ecuador defence.
Down at the other end, Ecuador had their best chance yet, with a long ball over the top that was latched onto by Rodriguez. His toe poked effort went just wind under pressure from keeper Rangel.
Ecuador continued to try and go direct in an attempt to get back into the game, but they never truly looked like threatening the Mexico goal, despite flooding forwards. It went from bad to worse as in the 93rd minute with a red card for Hincapie for covering his mouth during a confrontation. A really daft decision by the player to put himself in that situation, but academic in the scheme of things as the game was truly done by that point.
They talk about the crowd being like having an extra man. Here it seemed there were an extra 10.
Good luck to England should they beat DR Congo and set up a game here in the last 16, because they’re going to need it.
7 min read
Mexico 2 - 0 Sweden
Quiñones (22'), Jimenez (31')
In what was probably one of the noisiest encounters at the World Cup yet, Mexico used home advantage to their great advantage to nullify Ecuador with an overwhelming performance on and off the pitch and record their first World Cup knock-out win for 40 years and end Ecuador's dream.
Even a one-hour delay to kick-off for the weather didn't deter the crowd.
Mexico controlled the early possession, with young talent Gilberto Mora causing all kinds of problems on the left hand side of Ecuador’s defence.
Indeed, the 17-year-old had the best effort of the opening exchanges after popping up on the left, collecting a loose ball and whipping in a fantastic shot which just wouldn’t quite curve inside the far post. Agonisingly close for the youngest player at the tournament.
Down at the other end, Ecuador broke against the run of play, as Gonzlao Plata ran away with the ball, with John Yeboah ending up on the end of a Hincapie pass. His fierce shot appeared to be tipped onto the post by Mexico’s goalkeeper Rangel, but no corner was awarded.
Then it was Mexico’s turn to break. Quinones broke free onto a ball in the left channel, drove forwards and smashed a right footed shot into the roof of the net. A top finish. A net-bulger.
And just 10 minutes later, Mexico were in again. Ecuador blundered possession on the edge of the box with the ball falling to Jimenez. After a one two with goalscorer Quinones, he smashed one into the top corner. 2-0.
In the 39th minute, Yeboah had a great effort for Ecuador with a strike from range that was pushed away at full stretch from Rangel.
As the second half got underway, Ecuador looked to control the ball more, but a wild shot over the bar from Vite from around 25 yards out characterised the approach as they appeared to frustratedly snatch at half-chances.
Mexico defended brilliantly, and not just in their box but throughout a mid block, which served to continue to drain Ecuador’s belief in front of the extremely partisan Mexican crowd at the Azteca.
And they almost had a third as Montes connected with a header powerfully from a corner, but Galindez pulled off a great save in the Ecuador goal. From the follow up corner, he did it again, this time heading just wide. A handful for the Ecuador defence.
Down at the other end, Ecuador had their best chance yet, with a long ball over the top that was latched onto by Rodriguez. His toe poked effort went just wind under pressure from keeper Rangel.
Ecuador continued to try and go direct in an attempt to get back into the game, but they never truly looked like threatening the Mexico goal, despite flooding forwards. It went from bad to worse as in the 93rd minute with a red card for Hincapie for covering his mouth during a confrontation. A really daft decision by the player to put himself in that situation, but academic in the scheme of things as the game was truly done by that point.
They talk about the crowd being like having an extra man. Here it seemed there were an extra 10.
Good luck to England should they beat DR Congo and set up a game here in the last 16, because they’re going to need it.
Last 32: Mexico roar to victory at the Azteca
Some atmosphere, that.
Original article:
Mexico 2 - 0 Sweden
Quiñones (22'), Jimenez (31')
In what was probably one of the noisiest encounters at the World Cup yet, Mexico used home advantage to their great advantage to nullify Ecuador with an overwhelming performance on and off the pitch and record their first World Cup knock-out win for 40 years and end Ecuador's dream.
Even a one-hour delay to kick-off for the weather didn't deter the crowd.
Mexico controlled the early possession, with young talent Gilberto Mora causing all kinds of problems on the left hand side of Ecuador’s defence.
Indeed, the 17-year-old had the best effort of the opening exchanges after popping up on the left, collecting a loose ball and whipping in a fantastic shot which just wouldn’t quite curve inside the far post. Agonisingly close for the youngest player at the tournament.
Down at the other end, Ecuador broke against the run of play, as Gonzlao Plata ran away with the ball, with John Yeboah ending up on the end of a Hincapie pass. His fierce shot appeared to be tipped onto the post by Mexico’s goalkeeper Rangel, but no corner was awarded.
Then it was Mexico’s turn to break. Quinones broke free onto a ball in the left channel, drove forwards and smashed a right footed shot into the roof of the net. A top finish. A net-bulger.
And just 10 minutes later, Mexico were in again. Ecuador blundered possession on the edge of the box with the ball falling to Jimenez. After a one two with goalscorer Quinones, he smashed one into the top corner. 2-0.
In the 39th minute, Yeboah had a great effort for Ecuador with a strike from range that was pushed away at full stretch from Rangel.
As the second half got underway, Ecuador looked to control the ball more, but a wild shot over the bar from Vite from around 25 yards out characterised the approach as they appeared to frustratedly snatch at half-chances.
Mexico defended brilliantly, and not just in their box but throughout a mid block, which served to continue to drain Ecuador’s belief in front of the extremely partisan Mexican crowd at the Azteca.
And they almost had a third as Montes connected with a header powerfully from a corner, but Galindez pulled off a great save in the Ecuador goal. From the follow up corner, he did it again, this time heading just wide. A handful for the Ecuador defence.
Down at the other end, Ecuador had their best chance yet, with a long ball over the top that was latched onto by Rodriguez. His toe poked effort went just wind under pressure from keeper Rangel.
Ecuador continued to try and go direct in an attempt to get back into the game, but they never truly looked like threatening the Mexico goal, despite flooding forwards. It went from bad to worse as in the 93rd minute with a red card for Hincapie for covering his mouth during a confrontation. A really daft decision by the player to put himself in that situation, but academic in the scheme of things as the game was truly done by that point.
They talk about the crowd being like having an extra man. Here it seemed there were an extra 10.
Good luck to England should they beat DR Congo and set up a game here in the last 16, because they’re going to need it.
7 min read
Last 32: Mexico roar to victory at the Azteca
Some atmosphere, that.
Mexico 2 - 0 Sweden
Quiñones (22'), Jimenez (31')
In what was probably one of the noisiest encounters at the World Cup yet, Mexico used home advantage to their great advantage to nullify Ecuador with an overwhelming performance on and off the pitch and record their first World Cup knock-out win for 40 years and end Ecuador's dream.
Even a one-hour delay to kick-off for the weather didn't deter the crowd.
Mexico controlled the early possession, with young talent Gilberto Mora causing all kinds of problems on the left hand side of Ecuador’s defence.
Indeed, the 17-year-old had the best effort of the opening exchanges after popping up on the left, collecting a loose ball and whipping in a fantastic shot which just wouldn’t quite curve inside the far post. Agonisingly close for the youngest player at the tournament.
Down at the other end, Ecuador broke against the run of play, as Gonzlao Plata ran away with the ball, with John Yeboah ending up on the end of a Hincapie pass. His fierce shot appeared to be tipped onto the post by Mexico’s goalkeeper Rangel, but no corner was awarded.
Then it was Mexico’s turn to break. Quinones broke free onto a ball in the left channel, drove forwards and smashed a right footed shot into the roof of the net. A top finish. A net-bulger.
And just 10 minutes later, Mexico were in again. Ecuador blundered possession on the edge of the box with the ball falling to Jimenez. After a one two with goalscorer Quinones, he smashed one into the top corner. 2-0.
In the 39th minute, Yeboah had a great effort for Ecuador with a strike from range that was pushed away at full stretch from Rangel.
As the second half got underway, Ecuador looked to control the ball more, but a wild shot over the bar from Vite from around 25 yards out characterised the approach as they appeared to frustratedly snatch at half-chances.
Mexico defended brilliantly, and not just in their box but throughout a mid block, which served to continue to drain Ecuador’s belief in front of the extremely partisan Mexican crowd at the Azteca.
And they almost had a third as Montes connected with a header powerfully from a corner, but Galindez pulled off a great save in the Ecuador goal. From the follow up corner, he did it again, this time heading just wide. A handful for the Ecuador defence.
Down at the other end, Ecuador had their best chance yet, with a long ball over the top that was latched onto by Rodriguez. His toe poked effort went just wind under pressure from keeper Rangel.
Ecuador continued to try and go direct in an attempt to get back into the game, but they never truly looked like threatening the Mexico goal, despite flooding forwards. It went from bad to worse as in the 93rd minute with a red card for Hincapie for covering his mouth during a confrontation. A really daft decision by the player to put himself in that situation, but academic in the scheme of things as the game was truly done by that point.
They talk about the crowd being like having an extra man. Here it seemed there were an extra 10.
Good luck to England should they beat DR Congo and set up a game here in the last 16, because they’re going to need it.
7 min read