Ecuador sends Mexico home and Argentina is waiting

The ‘Battle of Glendale’ was won Ecuador. They drew 0-0 and ended in misery, but were sent home Mexico to enter the quarterfinals of America Cup for Group B where they will face the world champion, Argentina, on July 4 in Houston. With this Sunday’s result, this is the third time in history that Mexico has not made it past the group stage of the Copa América. Ecuador finished with 4 points, same as Mexico but won the place by better goal difference.

The meeting ended in drama and suspense. In the 97th minute El Tri could have benefited when in a game in the area the referee Mario Escobar did not hesitate to give a penalty in favor of Mexico, after the action of Félix Torres against Guillermo Martínez. The possible penalty unleashed a frenzy in the Mexican public who celebrated early, but VAR overturned the referee’s decision and the soul returned to the souls of the Ecuadorians.

In a very dull first half, Tri didn’t hurt themselves. The must-win, Mexico, showed little. Ecuador needs a draw to qualify for the next round of the tournament, while Mexico has no tomorrow, they need to win. But Jaime Lozano’s men never had the sense or compass to break down the Tri defense.

In the first half, an action by Kendry Páez in the 19th minute, when he launched a foul near the corner with a well-cornered left-footed shot, almost surprised goalkeeper Julio González, who rejected the ball with his fists . That was the most remarkable thing up to that point in a boring game.

In the final fifteen minutes, Mexico agreed that it was the needy and more intense. At 45+1 Santi Giménez woke up Tri from their lethargy. He received a long pass inside the area and sent a header a few centimeters over the crossbar. The fans in the stands did their thing. State Farm is packed and the fans are always cheering. The wave ‘flooded’ the stands, but the players were very reserved.

Actions resumed and Mexico wasted no time. At 49, César Huerta led off with a solo run, but Preciado stole the ball from him. Then a double header at the venue alerted the Ecuadorians. Mexico will go for the game. First Quiñones, with a right hand from the edge of the area, and then Giménez from point-blank range, tried the hands of Domínguez, who saved and saved Ecuador.

The cry of “yes we can, yes we can!” of Mexicans echoed through the stadium and Domínguez became a figurehead for La Tri. Spanish coach Félix Sánchez moved the bench to give the team air and stop the game, until that moment with greater dominance of the rival, Carlos Gruezo and Ángel Mena entered, for Rodríguez and Sarmiento, according to respectively.

But Mexico continued to hide and the Ecuadorians showed fatigue. At the age of 80, Captain Valencia was scared when he rode alone towards the goal of González. As the tone of the game continued, Mexico and its fans became desperate and El Tri had hope in the 97th minute with a possible penalty against Martínez that never came. Ecuador held on and will face Argentina in the quarterfinals.

DATA SHEET

0 – Mexico: Julio González; Jorge Sánchez, César Montes, Johan Vásquez, Gerardo Arteaga (m.91, Alexis Vega); Luis Romo, Orbelín Pineda (d.68, Guillermo Martínez), Luis Chávez; César Huerta (m.68, Uriel Antuna), Santiago Giménez and Julián Quiñones
0 – Ecuador: Alexander Dominguez; Angelo Preciado (m.90, Andrés Hurtado), Willian Pacho, Félix Torres, Piero Hincapié; Moisés Caicedo, Alan Franco, Jeremy Sarmiento (m.75, Ángel Mena), Kevin Rodríguez (m.74, Carlos Gruezo); Kendry Páez (m.67, Alan Minda) and Enner Valencia
Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala). He advised Montes, Caicedo, Sánchez, Chávez and Antuna
Happenings: Battle for the last day of Group B, played at State Farm Stadium, in Glendale (Arizona), before 62,526 spectators.