Mexico made hard work of beating lowly Ecuador 2-1 in their World Cup Group G match today, a result which leaves the race for the two qualifying places wide open.
Midfielder Gerardo Torrado hammered home the winner with a cracking left shot from outside the box in the 57th minute to put Mexico in the driving seat with two victories out of two.
Ecuador stunned the Mexicans by taking an early lead when giant striker Agustin Delgado rose high to send an unstoppable header past diminutive Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez from Ulises de la Cruz's right wing cross after just five minutes for the country's first World Cup goal but the two sides were level at 1-1 by half-time.
Delgado, who played in the Mexican league with Necaxa until his big money move to English Premiership side Southampton last season, has only just returned from a long lay-off due to extensive surgery on a knee injury and notched his 22nd goal in 48 games for his country.
In a game which was played in a friendly spirit, the referee booked six players, five of them from Ecuador.