Ecuador weathered a second-half push by Mexico in front of 62,656 mostly pro-Mexico fans to finish second in Group B behind Venezuela. Ecuador and Mexico finished level on four points from three games, but Ecuador advanced thanks to a better goal differential and will face Group A winner Argentina in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Houston.

“Playing against Argentina, in our experience, is a very tough team because they have the world’s best players, they play in the best leagues at a high level,” Ecuador coach Félix Sánchez said through an interpreter. “They are very versatile, have been playing together for a long time with the same coach, and they still have a lot of ambition.”

Mexico failed to get out of the group stage for the fourth time in its last five Copa America appearances, which could put Lozano’s job in jeopardy.

El Tri was eliminated in the first round of the World Cup for the first time since 1978 in Qatar two years ago and lost to the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League final in March.

Mexico had one goal on 57 shots in three Copa America games.