The Mexican national team didn’t have its top players and it showed in a 3-2 loss to Ecuador in Charlotte. In front of a pro-Mexico crowd of 39,887 at Bank of America Stadium, El Tri equalized on two occasions, but Ecuador took a final lead with 15 minutes left in the match.
The international friendly between the two nations fell outside the prescheduled FIFA international windows, and as a result neither national team could force the release of their top players from their club teams.
The lack of familiarity was evident in the defensive movements and the communication issues on the Mexican side, which had a difficult time whenever Ecuador attacked with numbers. It looked particularly easy for the Ecuadoreans to score on virtually every serious attack. Ecuador’s three goals came on its only three shots on goal.
MORE: Updated South American World Cup qualifying standings & schedule
Mexico still dominated possession (71% vs. 29%), shots (19-6) and shots on goal (9-3), forcing Ecuador’s ‘keeper into seven saves.
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There were three goals in the opening 15 minutes, with Mexico tying it at 1-1 when Cruz Azul teammates Santi Gimenez and ‘Piojo’ Alvarado combined for the easy finish. But it was Mexico’s 2-2 equalizer that was the must-watch strike, when left back Osvaldo Rodriguez put his laces through the ball and sent a searing shot under the crossbar.
But as the subs entered the game in the latter part of the second half, Mexico lost the little flow it had in attack and it struggled to come up with attacking ideas outside of set pieces. It had one final chance to tie at 3-3 deep in stoppage time, but Ecuador’s goalkeeper foiled Mexico substitute forward Eduardo Aguirre on a one-on-one opportunity.
MORE: CONCACAF World Cup qualifying results & schedule
Both teams took advantage of the game to give an opportunity to impress to fringe players and other younger players, who had the chance to prove to their national team coaches that they deserved potential inclusion for future World Cup qualifier call-ups.
As far as Mexico is concerned, the players who impressed against Ecuador were central midfielders Erik Lira, Ricardo ‘Canelo’ Angulo and winger Roberto ‘Piojo’ Alvarado, but only Alvarado has a realistic chance of breaking into a potential World Cup squad based on his standout qualities. The defenders were not convincing, and Santi Gimenez and Eduardo Aguirre were not clinical enough with their chances in attack to unseat the first-choice forwards.
“I told them that I’d be lying to them if I said that they’d have a 90 percent chance [of making the team],” Mexico manager Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino told TUDN postgame. “But if they have five or 10 percent [chance], in the short term they shouldnt lose hope. And the way they played today, they’re full of hope to be there [on the team].”
Mexico vs. Ecuador final score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Mexico | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Ecuador | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Goals:
ECU — Jhonny Quinonez — 2nd min.
MEX — Roberto ‘Piojo’ Alvarado (Santi Gimenez) — 6th min.
ECU — Janner Corozo (Michael Estrada) — 15th min.
MEX — Osvaldo Rodriguez — 59th min.
ECU — Walter Chala (Djorkaeff Reasco) — 75th min.
Mexico vs. Ecuador live updates & highlights
Standings and results: Updated World Cup qualifying table
(All times Eastern)
Final: Mexico 2, Ecuador 3
92nd min.: Eduardo Aguirre had the equalizer on his foot! 1-on-1 against the charging ‘keeper and the chance is lost. It was a great through ball in behind for Aguirre.
90th min.: Three minutes of stoppage time.
89th min.: After a set piece is poorly cleared, Erik Lira tries a shot from distance again, but it’s off target.
85th min.: Ecuador’s Mejia goes down with injury and this will kill some time. The subs also impacted Mexico’s flow and it’s not clear that it can just turn up the attack. Ecuador will be looking to close out the match.
75th min.: Goal Ecuador! Mexico’s back line falls asleep again on a throw-in and Reasco beats both Cota and Haret Ortega to the ball and pokes it to a wide-open Chala for the tap-in. The Ecuador subs combine for the go-ahead goal.
70th min.: First chance for Mexico’s Aguirre on a corner delivered by Ricardo ‘Canelo’ Angulo. The header is wide.
65th min.: SUBS – Ecuador makes two subs. Those are followed by another two for Mexico. Eduardo Aguirre on for Santi Gimenez and Alejandro Zendejas enters for Uriel Antuna. Like for like subs.
64th min.: Mexico’s Santi Gimenez knows he’s coming out and he wants his goal. He brings down the ball and fires from 20 yards out right at the ‘keeper.
60th min.: What a goal by Mexico! Goalkeeper saves a shot and the ball goes out to an onrushing Osvaldo Rodriguez who blasts a rising shot under the crossbar. Spectacular. 2-2.
58th min.: Free kick from 20 yards out for Mexico. After Santi Gimenez blasts the ball against the wall, Erik Lira fires the rebound just high of the bar.
55th min.: Mexico chance! El Tri is patiently keeping the ball and then it accelerates. Piojo Alvarado found his club teammate Santi Gimenez with a through ball, but his shot hit the side netting.
49th min.: Two yellow cards, one for each side. First it was Ecuador’s Michael Estrada going in the book and then in a separate incident Mexico’s Kevin Alvarez probably should’ve been sent off for his tackle on left winger Janner Corozo. If there was VAR in Charlotte, Alvarez would’ve been in trouble. He escapes with a yellow.
48th min.: Mexico chance! Cross by Uriel Antuna and header from Santi Gimenez right at the ‘keeper.
46th min.: Second half is underway. Rodolfo Cota is the new goalkeeper for Mexico, coming in for Jonathan Orozco. Kevin Alvarez comes in for Jose ‘Avion’ Ramirez at right back.
Halftime: Mexico 1, Ecuador 2
Halftime: It was an explosive start to the game, but then it surprisingly fizzled out. Ecuador easily penetrated the Mexico back line on those early forays for its two goals, but then the South Americans struggled to put together many attacks after the strong start. Despite the goal created by the Cruz Azul duo of Santi Gimenez and Piojo Alvarado, the Ecuadoreans looked comfortable defending the one-goal lead. Mexico had more of the possession (66%-34%) and outshot its opponents, but it couldn’t trouble Ecuador’s ‘keeper all that often. There was a long-distance shot by Alvarado and a handful of set pieces to close out the half, but nothing that Ecuador wasn’t able to handle.
47th min.: Chance for Mexico! Piojo Alvarado cuts from left to the middle and his shot is blocked by the ‘keeper, and falls to Mexico forward Santi Gimenez, but he’s offside.
45th min.: One minute of stoppage time.
44th min.: Set piece for Mexico into the box delivered by Ricardo Angulo and there’s a header that bounces in the direction of Ecuador’s ‘keeper Hernan Galindez for the easy save.
38th min.: First corner kick of the game to Mexico and it’s taken by the left-footed Ricardo Angulo. Leads to a shot from distance, deflected for an Ecuador goal kick.
32nd min.: Ricardo Angulo with the set piece into the box, but his teammates can’t connect and Ecuador clears the danger. Mexico controlling proceedings now. But Ecuador will go vertical fast when it wins the ball.
26th min.: After a quiet period, including an injury break for Mexico’s Uriel Antuna who took a blow, there’s a flurry in the Ecuador box, but the danger is defused by the referee whistle. Foul called.
15th min.: Another Ecuador attack and another goal! Give-and-go between Janner Corozo and Michael Estrada and Corozo with another scuffed shot that bounces past Mexico’s ‘keeper.
9th min.: Now it’s Ecuador wanting a penalty, but Unkel is still not pointing to the spot. It’s a wide open game. It shows that the players have something to prove.
6th min.: Goal Mexico! What a reaction from El Tri. After a run in the box, forward Santi Gimenez is on the ground but still flicks the ball to Piojo Alvarado, who taps it home.
5th min.: Roberto ‘Piojo’ Alvarado goes down in the box and it looked like a foul, but referee Ted Unkel isn’t buying it. No protests from Mexico.
2nd min.: Goal Ecuador! Not even 90 seconds in and Ecuador has a goal. Cross from the left side, but the Osvaldo Rodriguez header clearance went right to the middle of the box where Ecuador’s Jhonny Quinonez scuffed a shot past the ‘keeper.
1st min.: We’re underway. Ecuador with the early possession.
8:59 p.m.: Mexico captain and goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco has the mic with a message to the fans in attendance asking for respect for the players and the fellow fans during the match.
8:58 p.m.: Anthems are out of the way. It’s time for the coin toss with referee Ted Unkel.
9:26 p.m.: Ecuador’s Michael Estrada will be going up against players he faces on a weekly basis in Liga MX with Toluca:
Mexico vs. Ecuador: Lineups
Mexico coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino called up 18 players for this camp, but the call-ups do not include starters from Monterrey or Club America, which will be playing in the CONCACAF Champions League final first leg on Thursday.
One Club America backup player, the inexperienced 18-year-old Karel Campos, was called up to replace Erick Sanchez who picked up an injury. Campos has participated as a training invitee in previous senior Mexican national team camps.
Mexico lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Jonathan Orozco-GK (Tijuana) — 16-Jose ‘Avion’ Ramirez (Leon), 13-Haret Ortega (Toluca), 4-Jesus Angulo (Atlas), 5-Osvaldo Rodriguez (Leon) — 8-Fernando Beltran (Chivas), 17-Erik Lira (Pumas UNAM), 7-Ricardo Angulo (Chivas) — 10-Uriel Antuna (Chivas), 9-Santiago Gimenez (Cruz Azul), 11-Roberto ‘Piojo’ Alvarado (Cruz Azul)
Mexico subs (5): 12-Rodolfo Cota-GK (Leon) for Orozco (46′) — 2-Kevin Alvarez (Pachuca) for Ramirez (46′) — 19-Eduardo Aguirre (Santos Laguna) for Gimenez (66′) — 15-Alejandro Zendejas (Necaxa) for Antuna (66′) — 6-Alan Cervantes (Santos Laguna) for R. Angulo (74′)
Mexico subs not used (2): 3-Victor Guzman (Tijuana), 18-Karel Campos (Club America)
Ecuador’s Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro will be testing out some young talent and the Ecuadorean press suggests he’s looking for potential replacements for three starters who will all be suspended for the next World Cup qualifier due to yellow card accumulation.
According to reports, we can expect a 4-3-3 formation with 34-year-old goalkeeper Hernan Galindez and 25-year-old forward Michael Estrada, who plays for Mexico’s Toluca, being the reference points of the 19-man group. Players’ club teams follow in parentheses.
Ecuador starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Hernan Galindez-GK (U. Catolica) — 4-Andres Lopez (U. Catolica), 3-Marlon Mejia (Emelec), 18-Luis Segovia (Indep. del Valle), 6-Christian Cruz (LDU Quito) — 8-Jhonny Quinonez (Aucas), 21-Julio Ortiz (Delfin), 5-Michael Carcelen (Barcelona S.C.) — 19-Nilson Angulo (LDU Quito), 11-Michael Estrada (Toluca), 7-Janner Corozo (Delfin)
Ecuador subs (5): 14-Jose Carabali (U. Catolica) for Ortiz (65′) — 9-Djorkaeff Reasco (LDU Quito) for Corozo (65′) — 16-Walter Chala (U. Catolica) for Angulo (72′) — 20-Danny Cabezas (Nueve de Octubre) for Estrada (82′) — 23-Joshue Quinonez (Barcelona S.C.) for Lopez (82′)
Ecuador subs (3): 22-Jose Gabriel Cevallos-GK (Olmedo), 12-Jorge Pinos-GK (Nueve de Octubre), 17-Alexander Alvarado (Orlando City)
How to watch Mexico vs. Ecuador
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 27
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Spanish-language TV: UniMas, TUDN
- Streaming: fuboTV
The Mexico vs. Ecuador match will be broadcast on UniMas and TUDN, which are streamed on fuboTV , available to new users for a free 7-day trial .
The match will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and future home of Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC.
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