Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0, break 40-year World Cup knockout jinx

Mexico ended a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory on Tuesday, defeating Ecuador 2-0 at the iconic Azteca Stadium to advance to the round of 16. The win, spurred by first-half goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez, marked a significant milestone for the co-hosts.

The match, delayed by an hour due to stormy weather, kicked off with Mexico mounting relentless attacks in a charged atmosphere. Julian Quinones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a powerful strike, and Raul Jimenez doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark with a thunderous shot.

Mexico's victory extends their unbeaten World Cup record at the Azteca Stadium to 10 games. They now prepare to face either England or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the next stage. This triumph follows a dominant group stage performance where Mexico won all three matches without conceding a goal.

Adding to the historic occasion, 17-year-old Gilberto Mora became the second-youngest player to start a World Cup knockout match, following only Pele. Ecuador, who finished third in their group, struggled to gain momentum throughout the match, and Piero Hincapie's late red card capped a difficult night for the visitors.