SENDAI, Miyagi Pref. -- Tiny Ecuador is appearing in its first-ever World Cup finals and the experience is almost certain to be short-lived after it lost 2-1 on Sunday at Miyagi Stadium to a Mexican side growing in confidence. Goals on either side of halftime by Jared Borgetti and Gerardo Torrado in response to Ecuador's opener through Agustin Delgado gave Mexico three more points and maintained its perfect record in the competition so far.
No team in World Cup finals history has failed to progress in the tournament after winning its first two games, but Group G is still wide open. If Italy defeats Mexico and Croatia beats Ecuador in the final first-round games then the top three teams in the group would finish level on six points and goal difference would decide which two progressed.
"The most important thing is that Mexico won," said Mexico midfielder Sigifredo Mercado, who came on as a late substitute. "We have to be more intelligent and continue working. Against Italy we would be happy with a draw. Italy has to win. One gets eager when one has to play against a team like Italy."