Can Mexico win the important home game against Ecuador in Arizona?
Copa America 2024: Mexico fans at State Farm Stadium
At Sunday’s Copa America game at State Farm Stadium, Mexican fans outnumbered Ecuadorians, but not as many as one might have expected.
Mexico and Ecuador are tied goalless at halftime of Sunday’s Copa America Group B match at State Farm Stadium.
Mexico perhaps had the best chance to score. A misplaced pass in the box allowed Mexican Julian Quiñones to play a pass down the middle to teammate Santiago Gimenez, whose header went over the bar just before half-time.
Mexico played well on both sides, but several of its shots were blocked by Ecuador, although the South American team did not pose much of a threat on offense.
Mexico will have to play with more pressure to score a goal. A draw of any kind will not get them through to the next round, and if Ecuador scores a goal, Mexico will need two goals to advance.
The spectators, or at least many Mexico fans, sang along to the classic Mexican song “El Rey” during halftime. Ecuador is just one half away from advancing to the quarterfinals if it can avoid defeat.
Scenery for the Copa America group match between Mexico and Ecuador
Many signs indicated that the seats at State Farm Stadium for Sunday’s Copa America group match between Mexico and Ecuador would be painted predominantly in Mexican green (or black, white, red, and a combination of black and red).
There were certainly more Mexico fans in attendance. The Phoenix area has long been a popular destination for Mexican national team games, and Mexico fans can travel from other cities with large Mexican and Mexican-American populations in Southern California and from Las Vegas.
But yellow and blue, Ecuador’s main colors, were also in abundance in the crowd. And with many Ecuadorian soccer fans in the seats, there was a festive atmosphere in the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
New Jersey resident Richy Castro, also known as the “Total Sign Guy,” was in attendance holding a sign asking fans to text a specific number to have their messages seen on television or the stadium’s big screen.
“We are having discussions with everyone and getting their opinion on what (their teams) need to do to win. What they think who (which team) will win the Copa America and what the results will be,” Castro said.
Spontaneous chants in support of each team broke out in the main stands at State Farm Stadium. As the game began, Ecuador had its first chance to score in the seventh minute following a foul just outside the penalty area, but was unable to capitalize.
Both teams needed a win to secure their place in the quarterfinals, which increased the tension on the field. A draw would put Ecuador in the knockout rounds after a tiebreaker scenario and eliminate Mexico.
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