世界杯淘汰赛：主场作战，墨西哥二比零击败厄瓜多尔

Today we're talking about a World Cup knockout game: Mexico beat Ecuador two to zero.

This was a game that made Mexicans especially happy.

First, a word on where this game was played.

This match was played in Mexico — it was Mexico's home game.

A home game means playing in your own country, at your own stadium.

So most of the people who came to watch were Mexican.

Tens of thousands of fans filled the stadium, cheering for Mexico together.

Before the game, the weather was bad, and it rained heavily.

Because of that, the game started an hour late.

But the moment the rain stopped, Mexico came out on fire.

From the start they attacked non-stop, pinning Ecuador back.

In the twenty-second minute, the first goal came.

Quiñones drove the ball down the left, charged into the box, and fired a powerful shot into the net.

One to zero, Mexico led.

Just nine minutes later, Mexico scored again.

This time it was Jiménez, who seized an opponent's mistake and calmly put the ball away.

Two to zero, Mexico extended the lead.

In the second half, Ecuador badly wanted to pull one back and stepped up their attack.

But no matter how they played, they couldn't break through Mexico's goal.

Mexico defended steadily and didn't concede a single goal.

The fans chanted Mexico's name over and over, the sound ringing through the whole stadium.

In the end, Mexico won the game comfortably, two to zero.

Here's something very special about it.

Actually, Mexico hadn't won a knockout game like this at a World Cup for many years.

That wait was nearly forty years long.

So after winning today, the whole stadium of fans was beside themselves with excitement.

So, how should we view this game?

For Mexico, this is a win that was both important and joyful.

At their own home, in front of so many fans, they played their very best.

For Ecuador, losing is of course a shame.

This was their first knockout appearance in twenty years, and sadly they couldn't go further.

But they've already done very well, and deserve encouragement.

That's Mexico two to zero Ecuador, a game that belonged to the home fans.

See you next match.