Mexico beats Ecuador in U.S. exhibition

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PHOENIX - Vicente Matias Vuoso scored on a header in the 4th minute of injury time, lifting Mexico to a 2-1 exhibition victory over Ecuador on Wednesday night at Chase Field, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The two teams are in the middle of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup but the Mexicans brought mostly backups for the fifth and final game of its annual U.S. tour. Ecuador used several members of its national squad even though it doesn’t have another South American region qualifier until next March.

"It was very important to win today," Mexico national team coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said. "It was important for us to have confidence going into next week’s match with Honduras."

The Ecuadorians jumped on top early as Walter Ayovi found Issac Mina with a long cross in the 8th minute. Mina headed the ball in from short range past Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who plays for Club America.

"We had our opportunities," Ecuador coach Sixto Vizuete said. "In the second half, at the end, we lost our focus and it cost us the second goal."

The Mexicans finally answered in the 50th minute, when Israel Martinez sent a corner kick to Leobardo Lopez, who scored from close range to tie the game at 1.

"We deserved to win, especially the way we played in the second half," Eriksson said. "We had to play in the right spirit because if we don’t, next week could be dangerous."

Mexico split its first four meetings in the United States this year.

Mexico returns to CONCACAF region qualifying on Nov. 19, needing a tie at Honduras to advance to the final round of qualifying from the region for the 2010 finals.

Ecuador is halfway through the South American region qualifying round and is one point out of advancing to a playoff for a World Cup spot.

The two nations last met on July 1, 2007, at the Copa America in Venezuela with the Mexicans winning 2-0. Earlier that year, Mexico defeated Ecuador 4-2 at Oakland, Calif.