Ecuador -1, Mexico - 2 When bookmakers reacted to England's defeat of Argentina by making Italy favourites for the World Cup, there were few dissenting voices. Two group G matches later in this extraordinary World Cup, however, and Italy are facing the real prospect of having to pack up their designer suitcases and head home before the week is out.
With Mexico having done the job asked of them - just - by their coach Javier Aguirre yesterday to go top with six points out of six, Italy will now almost certainly have to beat the Central Americans in their final group game on Thursday to play any further part in the tournament.
While the Azzurri are currently second on three points, level with Croatia but with a better goal difference, the Croatians play Ecuador on Thursday - a prospect which made their former captain Zvonimir Boban laugh with glee in the stands here yesterday.
Aguirre, too, did not seem troubled by the prospect of facing the three-times world champions in such a critical situation. "Which players does Trapatonni have at his disposal again?" he asked. "Oh yes, Vieri, Totti, Del Piero, Montella. It will be a very hard match. But we have to attack, play football, and go after the ball."
For the best part of yesterday's match, that is what Mexico did. They fell behind in the fifth minute to a move if not made then paid for in Britain; a long looping cross from the right by Hibernian's full-back Ulises de la Cruz met the head of Southampton's Agustin Delgado and despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Oscar Perez, he could only turn the ball onto the bar, his right-hand post, and in.
After more moments of defensive uncertainty that will surely not have escaped the attention of Christian Vieri, the Mexicans grabbed a hold of the game. Cuauhtemoc Blanco, their goalscorer against Croatia on Monday, was prominent, dropping deep and pushing forward, prodding passes through the Ecuadorian back line. He linked well with Ramon Morales who again impressed on the left wing.
The Mexicans had had several half-chances to equalise when, in the 28th minute Morales produced a cross that Jared Borghetti slotted home. And their winner came from the no-nonsense midfielder Gerardo Torrado who, on receipt of a sly lay-off from Joahan Rodriguez, fired home a left-footed shot from 25 yards in the 57th minute.
Not long afterwards, Ecuador's Hernan Dario Gomez brought on forward Carlos Tenorio and partially-fit playmaker Alex Aguinaga to strengthen his attacking options, but an equaliser eluded them.
Such are the complicated mathematics of Group G that Ecuador - no points and a goal difference of minus three - could still theoretically qualify for the second round. But Gomes seemed already to be resigned to his fate after the match.
"I think we were equal for the first few minutes but then it all fell apart after that", he said. "We should not be judged only on our results at the World Cup, but in qualifying too. This team is fairly new, things take time."
