The Mexican national team didn’t have its top players and it showed in a 3-2 loss to Ecuador in Charlotte. In front of a pro-Mexico crowd of 39,887 at Bank of America Stadium, El Tri equalized on two occasions, but Ecuador took a final lead with 15 minutes left in the match.
The international friendly between the two nations fell outside the prescheduled FIFA international windows, and as a result neither national team could force the release of their top players from their club teams.
The lack of familiarity was evident in the defensive movements and the communication issues on the Mexican side, which had a difficult time whenever Ecuador attacked with numbers. It looked particularly easy for the Ecuadoreans to score on virtually every serious attack. Ecuador's three goals came on its only three shots on goal.
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