Ecuador secured the point they needed to qualify for the Copa America quarter-finals with a hard-fought goalless draw against Mexico in which Moises Caicedo and Kendry Paez played.

Caicedo completed the 90 minutes in central midfield and there was also another start for Paez, who will join the Blues after his 18th birthday next May. He was withdrawn midway through the second half in Glendale as Ecuador battled to avoid a defeat which would have eliminated them.

Mexico had to win to progress and understandably they dominated possession and the shot count, although it was Paez who went closest to opening the scoring in the 19th minute when his wide free-kick nearly caught out keeper Julio Gonzalez at his near post.

Mexico threw bodies forward in search of a winner and they thought they had a penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time, only for VAR to recommend the referee overturn his decision with Felix Torres having clearly won the ball.

Ecuador finish with four points from their three group games, above Mexico on goal difference. They will play Argentina and Enzo Fernandez in the quarter-final in the early hours of Friday morning UK time (2am), in Houston, Texas. The two teams met in a pre-tournament friendly, won 1-0 by Argentina. If Ecuador upset the odds, they will reach the last four of the Copa America for the first time since 1993.