Mexico turned on the style at the iconic Azteca Stadium on Tuesday, brushing Ecuador aside 2-0 to end a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory. The round-of-32 match was delayed for an hour due to stormy weather and, when it finally got under way, the co-hosts flew out of the blocks, mounting wave after wave of attacks. In a supercharged atmosphere, Julián Quiñones gave Mexico a deserved lead midway through the first half with a thunderous strike before turning provider for Raúl Jiménez. Ecuador desperately needed to wrest back the momentum after the break but struggled to find another gear, with the home side largely in control. Mexico had not won a World Cup knockout match since 1986, when they last hosted the tournament. Tuesday's victory means they are now unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches at the Azteca and will fancy their chances against England or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 16.
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Cover image: Alberto Nabarrete ondea la bandera mexicana antes de un partido de la Copa América del grupo C entre México y Uruguay en el Estadio de la Universidad de Phoenix, domingo 5 de junio de 2016, en Glendale, Arizona. AP - Matt York
