Mexico Ends 40-Year World Cup Knockout Curse by Defeating Ecuador
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- Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 at the Azteca Stadium, ending a 40-year World Cup knockout stage win drought.
- Julian Quinones scored and assisted Raul Jimenez in the match, which was delayed by stormy weather.
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Mexico had not won a World Cup knockout game since 1986, when they last hosted the tournament. The match was delayed by stormy weather.
Mexico turned on the style at their iconic Azteca Stadium on Tuesday, brushing Ecuador aside 2-0 to break a 40-year World Cup knockout curse.
The round-of-32 match was delayed for an hour due to stormy weather and when it started the co-hosts flew out of the blocks, mounting wave after wave of attacks.
In a supercharged atmosphere, Julian Quinones gave Mexico a deserved lead midway through the first-half with a thunderous strike and then turned provider for Raul Jimenez.
Ecuador desperately needed to wrest back the momentum after the break but struggled to shift through the gears, with the home side remaining largely in control.
Mexico had not won a World Cup knockout game since 1986, when they last hosted the tournament.
Head coach Javier Aguirre, taking charge of the team at a World Cup for the third time over three spells, said he needed a Scotch to celebrate ending decades of heartache.
