Julián Quiñones scored Mexico’s opener against Ecuador in the World Cup round of 32 on Tuesday, adding a third goal of the tournament. Mexico then doubled its lead after an Ecuador turnover, with Raúl Jiménez adding a scuffed finish.
Mexico’s World Cup night in the round of 32 turned on a familiar figure and a harsh mistake.
Julián Quiñones continued to star for Mexico at the tournament on Tuesday, scoring Mexico’s opener against Ecuador. It was his third goal of the 2026 World Cup.
Ecuador played a high line, and the play began with Roberto Alvarado finding Quiñones on the left flank behind the defense. The timing looked offside at first glance, but the officials kept the flag down because Quiñones was still in his own half.
Quiñones took control from there, cutting onto his right foot before striking a shot into the upper left corner. Ecuador goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez had no chance.
Mexico’s lead didn’t last long enough for Ecuador to recover. Nine minutes later, Mexico doubled its advantage when Ecuador defender Joel Ordóñez committed a turnover out of the back. The ball came to Quiñones. who quickly found Raúl Jiménez. and the striker finished into the far corner with a scuffed shot that still arrowed away from Galíndez in goal.
The sequence mattered because it followed the same rhythm: Ecuador’s push upfield created space, and when the defense finally got exposed, Mexico made it count in the most direct way possible.
Mexico vs Ecuador Julián Quiñones Raúl Jiménez World Cup round of 32 Hernán Galíndez Joel Ordóñez Roberto Alvarado Estadio Azteca
Mexico finally woke up I guess.
The offside thing is always weird to me, like how did they even not call it? Also that “turnover out of the back” sounds like Ecuador just panicked and handed it over.
Wait so Quiñones was in his own half but still scored?? That sounds like the refs were just letting it go. And the second goal was from a turnover so maybe Ecuador is cursed or something. I’m not saying Mexico didn’t play good, but the timing being ‘offside at first glance’ makes me side-eye it.
Estadio Azteca always makes it feel like the other team is doomed lol. Two goals in like 9 minutes is brutal. I saw people talking about Raúl Jiménez’s finish but “scuffed” shots usually happen when the keeper messes up, so idk how perfect that was. Ecuador playing a high line sounds like they wanted to press but then got burned hard.