Ecuador ground out a nerve-jangling 0-0 draw with Mexico to book its place in the quarter-finals of the Copa America on Sunday as Venezuela sealed top spot in Group B with a 3-0 win over Jamaica.
Ecuador, needing only a point against Mexico in Glendale, Arizona, to advance on goal difference, withstood a furious late onslaught from ‘El Tri’ to reach the last eight.
Mexico launched wave after wave of attacks in the final quarter, with Johan Vasquez forcing a save from Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez in the 71st minute, six minutes after Santiago Gimenez struck the post with a shot from close range.
There was almost a dramatic twist deep into eight minutes of time added on, when Guatemalan referee Mario Escobar awarded what could have been a winning penalty to Mexico after Ecuador’s Felix Torres appeared to foul Guillermo Martinez in the area.
The Mexican-dominated crowd erupted in delight only for the celebrations to be cut short when VAR instructed Escobar to review the decision. Replays showed Torres clearly got a touch on the ball in his challenge on Martinez and the penalty was overturned.
Ecuador will now face Group A winnersArgentina in the quarterfinals in Houston on Thursday.
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