Mexico in quarters after beating Ecuador

MATURIN, Venezuela, July 2 (Reuters) Mexico reached the quarter-finals of the Copa America yesterday with a 2-1 victory over Ecuador in Group B.

The result leaves the Mexicans on top of the group with the maximum six points. Rivals Brazil and Chile have three points each.

Brazil beat Chile 3-0 earlier yesterday. Ecuador prop up the group without a point and are out of the running for the last eight.

In the 12-team competition the top two teams from each of the three groups go through to the quarter-finals along with the best two of the third-placed teams.

Even with a defeat in their final match against Chile, Mexico, who shocked Brazil in their opening game, are assured of at least going through as a third-placed side.

Nery Castillo and Omar Bravo put Hugo Sanchez's Mexican side 2-0 up before Edison Mendez pulled one back for Ecuador five minutes from the end.

Reuters KK VP0610