Mexico continues its ‘flawless’ race on home soilpublished at 08:10 Moscow time
Mexico – Ecuador 2:0
Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport reporter
Media Headline,
“Azteca is erupting!” Quinones put Mexico in the lead
With four wins from four matches, Mexico have scored eight goals and yet to concede once in a flawless start to this year’s tournament.
And although they entered this competition with a dismal record of defeat in eight of their previous nine attempts to progress beyond the first knockout stage, the Estadio Azteca provided the perfect counterbalance.
In 89 competitive matches at their beloved stadium, Mexico has won 70 times and lost only twice.
This record is even more impressive at the World Championships.
They played all three group stage matches there in 1970, without conceding a single goal, before being knocked out in Toluca by the Italian team, who then lost to Brazil in the final.
The 1986 tournament followed a similar pattern, meaning Mexico had yet to lose any of their 10 final matches at the famous stadium.
And for those watching what is happening in the camps in England or the DR Congo, it will be easy to understand why in any analysis of this meeting with Ecuador.
With over 80,000 fans turning the stadium into a sea of green in the hours before kick-off, Mexico were clearly buoyed by the electric atmosphere as they overran their opponents in the early stages.
The Azteca also presents another unusual challenge: it sits over 2,000 meters above sea level, and while playing at such an altitude is the norm for many of its players, it is likely to prove a huge disadvantage for those not used to such conditions.