Mexico turned on the style at the iconic Azteca Stadium on Tuesday, brushing Ecuador aside 2-0 to end a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout victory.
The round-of-32 match was delayed for an hour due to stormy weather and, when it finally got under way, the co-hosts flew out of the blocks, mounting wave after wave of attacks.
In a supercharged atmosphere, Julián Quiñones gave Mexico a deserved lead midway through the first half with a thunderous strike before turning provider for Raúl Jiménez.
Ecuador desperately needed to wrest back the momentum after the break but struggled to find another gear, with the home side largely in control.
Mexico had not won a World Cup knockout match since 1986, when they last hosted the tournament.
Tuesday's victory means they are now unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches at the Azteca and will fancy their chances against England or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 16.
Mexico were one of only three teams in the group stage to win all three of their matches, alongside France and Argentina, and did not concede a single goal.
Ecuador finished third in their group, scoring just two goals.
Gilberto Mora, 17, was named in the starting line-up for Mexico, becoming the second-youngest player to start a knockout match at the World Cup finals behind Pelé in 1958.
The home side started on the front foot, refusing to allow a shell-shocked Ecuador to settle.
Jiménez wasted a glorious headed chance in the seventh minute and Mora flashed just wide.
At the other end, John Yeboah muscled his way into the penalty area in a rare foray forward for the visitors, clipping the outside of the near post.
Mexico took the lead in the 22nd minute when Saudi-based Quiñones received the ball from Roberto Alvarado and tore down the left before driving into the box and unleashing an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez, lifting the roof off the stadium.
The first hydration break failed to change the script and Mexico doubled their lead after half an hour when Quiñones fed Fulham striker Jiménez, who fired a rocket into the top corner.
Raúl Rangel produced a fine save to keep out another Yeboah effort as Ecuador got a foothold in the match, but chances kept flowing at the other end.
Ecuador coach Sebastián Beccacece made a number of changes after the break in an effort to find a way back into the match.
But Mexico, largely content to sit back, still looked the more threatening side, with César Montes twice going close.
Ecuador substitute Kevin Rodríguez poked just wide with a little over a quarter of an hour remaining, but their chances ran out.
Piero Hincapié was sent off in stoppage time after covering his mouth during a confrontation with an opposition player, capping a miserable night for Ecuador.
Mexico will hope the Azteca, which hosted the World Cup final in 1970 and 1986, works its magic again in the last 16 on Sunday.
From the quarter-finals onwards, all World Cup matches will be played in the United States.
AFP