Jun 30, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mexico midfielder Orbelin Pineda (17) controls the ball in opposition to Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo (23) throughout the first half] within the Copa America soccer event at State Farm Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities Ecuador reached the Copa America quarterfinals by incomes a gritty and dramatic 0-0 draw in opposition to Mexico within the groups’ Group B finale on Sunday night time in Glendale, Ariz.
Ecuador (1-1-1, 4 factors) absorbed stress all through the night to safe the second spot within the group above Mexico (1-1-1, 4 factors) based mostly on its superior purpose distinction. Ecuador completed with a plus-1 purpose distinction whereas Mexico’s was even.
Ecuador will advance to face defending champions Argentina on Thursday in Houston in an try and advance its first semifinal since they hosted the occasion in 1993.
Mexico thought it had earned a penalty deep into second-half stoppage time when referee Mario Escobar pointed to the spot after Felix Torres’ problem on Guillermo Martinez.
However the Guatemalan reversed his determination after a VAR evaluation, the place he noticed replays exhibiting Torres made contact with the ball earlier than Martinez tumbled to the bottom.
Mexico completed its first Copa America since 2016 having scored solely as soon as in its three group matches, an output that can see stress improve on supervisor Jaime Lozano.
Already this system’s third head coach within the final 24 months, Lozano additionally drew criticism when Mexico misplaced the 2024 CONCACAF Nations League last 2-0 to america and dropped two friendlies heading into this event, together with a 4-0 demolition by the hands of Uruguay.
Mexico dominated the circulate of play and had 19 pictures in opposition to Ecuador’s 9, however directed solely three on course and none earlier than halftime.
Probably the most threatening sequences usually got here by way of Julian Quinones down the left. Seconds after Luis Romo lastly pressured Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez into his first save within the sixty fifth minute, Quinones determined to attempt his personal luck from distance.
Dominguez made a diving cease, however pushed the rebound solely so far as Mexico’s Santi Gimenez, who directed his rebound from a decent angle off the close to submit.
As Mexico continued to stress, Ecuador started to supply extra risk from the counter. Enner Valencia’s dipping strike pressured Julio Gonzalez’s unsure save within the 68th minute, and he fired broad on the break within the eightieth when he might’ve performed a move to a teammate to his proper.
–Area Degree Media