When the referee originally gave Mexico a penalty in the closing seconds of additional time against Ecuador, Mexico almost had a lifeline, but the call was reversed after watching the replay. Mexico was also lacking in creativity. While they increased their playmaking considerably during the second half as their hunger for a goal grew, their greatest opportunities came from set pieces, penalty-box pinball, and individual acts rather than from constructed plays in the locker room.
The competition's greatest get-out-of-jail card would have been a penalty in the 96th minute, which was later reversed by VAR. The 0-0 draw against Ecuador now means that Mexico bowed out and Ecuador advanced to play Argentina in the quarter-finals.
Inside the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Venezuela defeated Jamaica with three goals in the second half to take first place in the Copa America 2024 Group B tables.Soon after the break, star striker Salomon Rondon extended the lead after Eduard Bello started the score. Late in the contest, Eric Ramirez added the third goal to cap up Venezuela's impressive display.
Venezuela and Ecuador qualify as Mexico gets knocked out of Copa America 2024
Because of its larger goal differential, Ecuador merely needed a draw to advance, but Mexico needed to win in order to move on towards the next round. Due to their losses to Venezuela, only one of the two teams—who were favorites to win the group—will advance. The triumphs for Venezuela were characterized by serendipitous incidents; in a 2-1 loss against Ecuador, Enner Valencia was sent off early, and in a 1-0 loss against Mexico, Orbelin Pineda missed a penalty.
As runners-up in Group B, Ecuador defeated Mexico in a goalless draw on Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, to advance to the Copa America 2024 quarterfinals. Venezuela defeated Jamaica 3-0 in Austin to advance from Group B as the table toppers.
Fans react as Mexico denied 3 penalties against Ecuador as they bow out of Copa America 2024: -
That’s not at all a penalty to Mexico. VAR has to reverse that.
— Zito (@_Zeets) July 1, 2024
MEXICO HAVE BEEN ROBBED OF 3 CLEAR PENALTIES VS ECUADOR
— German (@PopOutGerman) July 1, 2024
THE REFEREE AFTER THE GAME: pic.twitter.com/CxdV1VcZnY
DO YOU THINK THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PENALTY FOR MEXICO? 😲 pic.twitter.com/FiqMc3rdr5
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) July 1, 2024
Mexico fans after the Refs called off the penalty pic.twitter.com/VugZqTalSH
— Devine Sports Gospel (@DevineGospel) July 1, 2024
Once again, a clear handball from Ecuador defender inside the box. NO PENALTY for Mexico.
— Fernando Contreras (@feratthesix) July 1, 2024
CONMEBOL and it’s ways 🤷🏻♂️#CopaAmérica | #JuntosYUnidospic.twitter.com/z9BeIkHwzg
And a SECOND HANDBALL from Ecuador inside the penalty area! Again, no penalty conceded for Mexico. This CONMEBOL referees, man. It’s disgusting at this point.#CopaAmerica | #JuntosYUnidospic.twitter.com/t6z3XdCmCp
— Fernando Contreras (@feratthesix) July 1, 2024
THIS IS ANOTHER PENALTY. IT HITS HIS HAND BEFORE HE HIDES IT WTFFF
— German (@PopOutGerman) July 1, 2024
THIS IS CORRUPTION. ECUADOR ARE ROBBING MEXICO pic.twitter.com/O8GR38HoHy
If Mexico actually gets this penalty here... pic.twitter.com/k4TY7Bk20x
— Eric Thompson (@eric_j_thompson) July 1, 2024
Ref gives a penalty to Mexico on the 97th minute and VAR then over turns it. No penalty. Wild!!!!
— Ahsan Quadri (@AhsanQuadri_) July 1, 2024
Mexico eliminated!!! Ecuador advanced to face Argentina in the Quarterfinal!!!! pic.twitter.com/WSDn7Dlld9