Mexico are out of the Copa America after a 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in Group A at the Estadio La Teniente.
La Tri took the lead shortly before the half-hour mark as Enner Valencia crossed for Miller Bolanos to tap in from close range.
The same duo combined to devastating effect shortly after the break, but this time Bolanos turned provider as he slipped Valencia through on goal and the striker coolly slotted it in.
Mexico were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty, which Raul Jimenez scored, but they struggled to apply any late pressure and slumped to defeat.
Follow how Sports Mole covered the action below.
Hello, good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of Mexico vs. Ecuador from the Copa America. The final round of group games is set to get underway tonight, as teams fight it out for a place in the quarter-finals.
Tonight will see Group A come to a conclusion, as hosts Chile meet Bolivia later, but our focus is firmly on the Estadio La Teniente where Mexico hope to book their place in the knock-out stages.
The men in green are yet to lose at this tournament, but neither have they tasted success. Two draws has left them on two points, and they sit third in the group.
However, Ecuador's miserable form at the Copa America in 2015. They have lost both of their games so far, and are almost certainly heading home early. Don't write them off tonight though, as they look to win their first game at this competition since 2001.
TEAM NEWS: If Mexico are going to win tonight, then will have to do it without their influential captain Rafael Marquez. He misses out through injury and is replaced by Juan Carlos Valenzuela. Ecuador have kept faith with Enner Valencia and Miller Bolanos upfront, while Jefferson Montero also starts.
MEXICO: Corona, Flores, Ayala, Dominguez, Valenzuela, Velarde, Medina, Guemez, Corona, Vuoso, Jiminez.
ECUADOR: Dominguez, Paredes, Achillier, Erazo, Ayovi, Martinez, Quinonez, Monterol Noboa, Bolanos, Valencia.
Ecuador have three Premier League players on show today in Juan Carlos Paredes, Jefferson Montero and Enner Valencia. Mexico's established stars aren't at this tournament as they are resting ahead of the Gold Cup next month.
Coach Miguel Herrera was keen to give his lesser players a chance in this tournament, and if they make it through tonight then several of them could feature next month.
And his team will feel confident of victory. They have a 16-2 winning record against Ecuador, and haven't lost to them since 2010.
The Copa America works differently from most major tournaments, as two of the teams which finish third in their groups will make it through to the quarter-finals. A win for Mexico will virtually secure their place there, and kickoff is in five minutes.
PREDICTION: So all things are pointing to a Mexico win, but Ecuador are a better team then they have shown so far. I'm going for a 1-1 draw, which will keep Mexico sweating on whether they get through or not.
Both teams have sung their national anthems and we're now ready to get underway.
KICKOFF! Ecuador start the match!
CHANCE! Ecuador should be ahead with the first attack of the night! Montero does brilliantly down the left, as he skips past his marker and pulls it back to Bolanos 10 yards out. The striker makes space for himself, but his low shot is straight at the keeper. Big chance!
Already Ecuador look extremely dangerous on the counter-attack. It's been a very lively start here, which hopefully bodes well!
SAVE! This isn't the Ecuador which lost 3-2 to Bolivia last time out! They've been excellent so far, and test the keeper once again as Christian Noboa lets fly from 25 yards. Corona is forced low down but makes an easy save.
Mexico win a dangerous free kick to the right of the box, and Medina stands over it...It's easily cleared, but a long ball over the top almost catches Ecuador cold. Fortunately for them, Dominguez races off his line and deals with the danger.
Mexico have got a better control of the ball, but they are still struggling with Ecuador's ferocious pace going forward. It's been an intriguing game so far!
Medina hacks down Bolanos 30 yards from goal. This is a good crossing position for Ecuador, and they have some big guys in their side.
SHOT! Noboa elects to shoot instead...it's a good effort, with dip and swerve but it sails three feet wide of the post.
YELLOW CARD! Mexico have struggled to get into this game so far. Ecuador have too much pace and power for them, and it shows again when Hugo Ayala drags down Enner Valencia. The ref has had enough and brandishes a yellow card.
Ecuador waste the free kick though as it sails harmlessly out of play.
Finally Mexico get hold of the ball for a good period of time, and they settle into a nice passing rhythm. They fail to get into the Ecuador final third, but these last few minutes will boost their confidence.
That's really poor from Mexico's Velarde, who loses the ball to Bolanos down the left. The striker finds Enner Valencia on the edge of the box, but he eventually gets crowded out. Ecuador are playing a high-tempo game and Mexico are struggling to cope.
CLOSE! Great chance for Mexico, and they should be ahead! Vicente Vuoso picks up the ball in space 25 yards out, and weaves past a couple of defenders. He gets to the edge of the box, and tries to bend a right-footed effort into the far corner. He gets too much on it though, and it misses by a whisker.
GOAL! MEXICO 0-1 ECUADOR (BOLANOS)
GOAL: They've deserved it, and now they've got it! Ecuador take the lead, and it couldn't have been a more simple finish for Miller Bolanos! La Tri rob the ball off Mexico and charge forward on the break, Bolanos plays Valencia in down the left and he crosses back across for goal for his strike-partner to tap the ball in. Simple.
YELLOW CARD! The referee books Bolanos for his celebration.
Mexico are playing with a little bit more of urgency now, but Ecuador look very comfortable.
SAVE! Mexico earn a corner, and the floated ball is looped towards goal by a Mexican head. Dominguez does well on the line to clutch it under pressure and stop it from dropping in.
Since the goal, Ecuador have been even more content to sit back and soak up Mexico's pressure. They're doing a great job so far, and continue to look dangerous on the break.
Ecuador break again as Mexico lose possession, and almost work their way through the defence. A superb reverse pass from Montero seems to send Walter Ayovi through on goal, but he is slightly offside.
CHANCE! Paredes has had a strong half down the right-hand side, but he needs to do better here. He bombs forward at pace, and spots Bolanos largely unmarked in the box. However, he balloons his cross and it goes out of play.
Mexico get in behind for arguably the first time of the night down the left, but Velarde's cross is poor and knocked out for corner...
...It comes to nothing though as Dominguez catches the ball.
The fourth official adds on one minute.
HALF TIME: MEXICO 0-1 ECUADOR
What an eventful half that was, and there is plenty for Miguel Herrera to ponder as his team trudges off having been totally outplayed. Ecuador deserve their lead, and are on the way to their first Copa America win since 2001.
If the game finishes like this, then Mexico will finish bottom of the group! Ecuador would move above them and onto three points, giving them a very slender chance of progression!
Indeed, La Tri will be disappointed that they don't lead by more! Bolanos should have scored in the opening minutes, while Noboa went fairly close from a free kick.
However, their goal was typical Ecuador: Counter-attacking at its very finest. Valencia was very unselfish to cross the ball, and Bolanos couldn't miss.
So how will Mexico change it? Maybe Herrera will make a change in attack, as Vuoso and Jimenez have been largely anonymous. Attacking midfielder Marco Fabian would also be a good man to bring on.
The teams are preparing to come back out for the second period. Mexico have 45 minutes to save their Copa America campaign!
KICKOFF! Mexico get us back underway!
SUBSTITUTE! Herrera isn't waiting around tonight! He makes his first change as Javier Aquino replaces Efrain Velarde.
Mexico have immediately started on the front foot, and there is a renewed vigour about their passing.
CHANCE! Ecuador have the first chance of the half, and Enner Valencia misses badly. A high cross from the right picks out the West Ham United forward eight yards out, but he gets way too much on his header and it flies over the bar.
YELLOW CARD! No complaints here as Renato Ibarra goes into the book for a very late tackle under the referee's nose.
SUBSTITUTE! Mexico make their second change already, and Fabian does indeed come on. He replaces Javier Guemez.
YELLOW CARD! Mexico's free kick comes to nothing and Ecuador sense a chance to break at speed. Paredes darts past Fabian, who brings him down with a blatant kick. He gets a yellow, but he had to do it.
It's been an impressive start to the half for Mexico, but Ecuador have remained resolute so far. In fact, they still look the most dangerous team in attack as they dart forward down the left. A tame cross from Ayovi is followed up with a wayward shot from Noboa.
MEXICO 0-2 ECUADOR (VALENCIA)
GOAL: Is this game over?! Mexico just haven't coped tonight, and yet again fall to the counter-attack. Bolanos steels the ball 30 yards from goal and releases Valencia. The striker keeps his composure and slots the ball in from close-range to double La Tri's lead!
CHANCE! Big chance for Mexico to pull one back immediately! A low ball falls for Vuoso, but his shot from six yards it saved low down by Dominguez.
Mexico are already preparing a third change...
SUBSTITUTE! And there it is, Miguel Aguirre replaces Jesus Corona.
PENALTY MEXICO!
GOAL! MEXICO 1-2 ECUADOR (JIMENEZ)
GOAL: Out of nowhere, Ecuador gift Mexico a lifeline as Achillier wrestles a player to the ground in the box while defending a corner! Up steps Raul Jimenez, and he sends the keeper the wrong way to bring them back in it.
CHANCE! Mexico are still playing a high defensive line and that's asking for trouble! Valencia scampers down the right to get on the end of a long ball forward, and cuts it back to the unmarked Bolanos in the box. However, he takes a heavy touch and is quickly closed down. Big chance wasted!
CHANCE! Another excellent chance goes begging! And it comes down the right once again! Paredes's cross is chested to Valencia, who is lurking six yards out, but he scuffs his volley and it dribbles through to the keeper. How many more will Ecuador waste?
Ecuador are right on top now, and look most likely to score next. Mexico are keeping men forward, so there is plenty of space for Ecuador to play in. Little has dropped for them yet, but it seems like only a matter of time.
CHANCE! Brilliant block by Flores, who stops an almost certain goal for Ecuador's Montero. Another whipped cross from the right picks out the Swansea winger six yards out. He seemingly has a simple volley, but Flores gets across and blocks his shot! Outstanding.
SHOT! Remember Enner Valencia's stunning goal for West Ham at Hull last season? Well, he tries to replicate it but gets it horribly wrong. The striker is given the ball 30 yards out and he leathers it towards goal. However, instead of flying into the net, it flies into the stands.
SUBSTITUTE! Ecuador make their first change as Renato Ibarra comes off to be replaced by Juan Cazares.
CLOSE! Again Ecuador come close to killing the game off, as a fast, flowing move down the left reaches Valencia six yards out. His goalbound effort is blocked though and goes for a corner.
Ouch! Mexico's Aguirre is forced to leave the pitch to receive treatment for a nasty looking head injury, as blood drips down his face.
Mexico have been disappointing since the goal. They haven't caused any problems for Ecuador.
CHANCE! If Ecuador don't win this game then they only have themselves to blame, as they waste another chance! Montero does well down the left as he beats his man and pulls a low cross towards Bolanos. The striker only needs to guide it into the corner with the inside of his boot, but he takes a touch and is closed down.
SHOT! Finally Mexico produce something, as a neat move sees the ball move to Fabian on the edge of the box. The midfielder loves a shot from distance, but this one clears the cross bar by a couple of feet.
Ecuador are still piling men forward in search of a third. Brave, but follish?
SHOT! A series of corners give Mexico hope, but they waste the chance as Vuoso hacks an ugly effort wide.
SUBSTITUTE! Jefferson Montero runs off to be replaced by Fidel Martinez.
Ecuador are in control of the ball in these dying minutes. It looks like they will hang on.
FULL TIME: MEXICO 1-2 ECUADOR
There it is! Ecuador have won their first Copa America game since 2001, and have dumped Mexico out in the process!
They made it much harder on themselves than they should have done, but victory will taste sweet all the same. Mexico have a lot of work to do before the Gold Cup based on this performance, despite many of their stars returning.
Right that's it from me tonight. Thank you for joining Sports Mole for tonight's cracker, and if you want some more Copa America (which you do of course) then stay with us for coverage of Chile vs. Bolivia, which starts imminently. From me though, good night.
