Ecuador held firm against a determined Mexico side to secure a scoreless draw and book their spot in the Copa America quarter-finals. The result meant contrasting fortunes for the two North American nations, with Ecuador progressing as Group B runners-up while Mexico’s tournament journey ended abruptly.
Despite dominating possession for much of the match, Mexico struggled to break down a resolute Ecuadorian defence. The Ecuadorians, with their sights set on a second-place finish, were content to absorb pressure and hit on the counter.
The drama unfolded in the dying moments of the match. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Mexico were awarded a penalty after Felix Torres was adjudged to have brought down Guillermo Martinez. Fans and players erupted in celebration, believing they had snatched a dramatic victory.
However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened, asking the referee on the field to review the incident. After a tense wait, the decision was overturned. Replays showed Torres getting a vital touch on the ball before making contact with Martinez, and the penalty was rightly chalked off.
The VAR decision left Mexico heartbroken. Manager Jaime Lozano, whose future with the national team was already uncertain, acknowledged the disappointment: “Whenever an objective is not met, there is certain discomfort and doubts, that’s only natural, no matter who’s here. But the players kept believing until the very end, that’s not easy.” He remained non-committal about his future, leaving the decision to the footballing authorities.
The draw meant contrasting fortunes for both teams in the group stage. Ecuador progressed to the quarter-finals, where they will face a formidable opponent – defending champions Argentina. The match will be played on Friday, July 5th at 2:00 BST.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s Copa America campaign came to a premature end. While they finished third in Group B with four points, they were ultimately pipped by Ecuador’s superior goal difference.
Elsewhere in Group B, Venezuela topped the table with a perfect record after defeating Jamaica 3-0. Goals from Eduard Bello, Salomon Rondon, and Eric Ramirez sealed their dominance. They will face Canada in the quarter-finals on Saturday, July 6th at 2:00 BST.
