Javier Hernandez scored and Jose Corona stopped a penalty as Mexico defeated Ecuador 1-0 in a friendly in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Hernandez provided the only goal of the game in the 14th minute when he cut inside and curled in a shot from the top of the 18-yard box.
Corona made a number of key saves, but none was bigger than his penalty save on Miller Bolanos in the 73rd minute.
Diego Reyes clattered into Angel Mena in the box, but Bolanos could not convert as Corona dived to his right.
Mexico coach Miguel Herrera said each of his goalkeepers will start one of the friendlies this week. Corona will match as Guillermo Ochoa starts for Mexico against Paraguay on Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri.
Hernandez, who has played just 217 minutes all season with Real Madrid, scored his 39th goal with the Mexican national team.
He said it was important that Mexico put out its best effort in every friendly.
"It was very important because we want each game to try to show a response to the confidence the manager gives to us," he told ESPN.
"We're very happy, very pleased because the most important thing here is as a team we made a very, very big effort, and we're very happy."
Ecuador appeared more dangerous at the start and could have gone ahead in the fifth minute when Bolanos received a ball in the heart of the area, but he managed only a soft shot that was controlled by Corona.
Mexico took the lead when Hernandez stole a ball down the left side, stepped into the middle and took a powerful shot that hit the post before entering the Ecuadorian goal.
Ecuador had a chance to equalize on 36 minutes, when Jefferson Montero entered the area but his shot was blocked by Corona. Montero left the game with an apparent injury a few minutes later.
Ecaudor pressed for an equalizer in the second half but Coronoa was up to the challenge.
Mexico had its best chance in the 81st minute when Raul Jimenez was sent through on goal, but his shot was deflected onto the crossbar by Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez.
The game was a preview of a group-stage match in the Copa America, scheduled for June 19.