The Copa América match between Mexico and Ecuador was at risk of being suspended after fans were asked to stop a homophobic chant.
Argentina’s quarter-final opponent was determined in a match with a film-like ending. Ecuador did well to secure the draw they had come looking for against a Mexico that claimed four penalties, including one in the last minute whistled by Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar, but overturned after a review by the VAR, supervised by the Argentinian Silvio Trucco.
Thus, the Argentine team will have to face the same opponent as in the quarter-finals of the previous Copa América, where they won 3-0. An opponent she also met recently: on June 9, during a friendly preparation match, she beat him 1-0 thanks to a goal from Ángel Di María.
The first half was played without any real domination, marked by parity. The Mexicans, forced to win, had a little more possession and tried to press high to disrupt the opponent’s recovery, but without managing to create real opportunities.
In the 9th minute, they claimed a penalty for a handball by Torres in the area, but the referee rightly judged that his arm was in a natural position. The team led by Félix Sánchez Bas, aware that a draw was enough for them to stay alive in the competition, played cautiously to avoid leaving spaces for their opponents.
Mexico came back with a different posture in the second half, more aggressive and determined. They bombarded the opponent’s area with crosses, but came up against the resistance of Ecuador. The Ecuadorians also had their chances on the counterattack, despite a lack of finishing in the final moves.
The end of the match was marked by controversy, with several claims of Mexican penalties not being awarded after consulting the VAR.
In the end, Ecuador held on and moved on to the next round, where they will face the Argentine national team.
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