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MIYAGI, Japan, Sunday, (Reuters) - Agustin Delgado made history for Ecuador on Sunday but shuffled out of the Miyagi Stadium without a smile following his bickering team's 2-1 defeat by Mexico.

Delgado's well-taken header from an accurate cross by Ulises de la Cruz put Ecuador ahead after only five minutes and was the country's first goal on soccer's biggest stage.

But they were undone by poor team work and a lack of spirit and slumped to their second successive defeat.

"It is a dream for every player to come to the World Cup finals and to score a goal," said the man dubbed 'El Tin' by his fans. "But it means nothing at all to score a goal if you don't win the game."

"I am not happy. We should have fought much harder as a team. We did not do enough to stop Mexico winning. "To be a goal ahead and to lose is not good enough. Everyone should have worked harder."

His unhappiness was understandable given the severe criticism articulated afterwards by their coach Hernan Dario Gomez who knows only a miracle can save Ecuador from elimination now. "The players showed a lack of character today," he said. "There was a bad attitude. That is why I made the first substitutions. There was not enough character in the team."

The coach gave his views both inside and outside the Ecuador dressing room after a scrappy game that produced moments of sublime skill amid passages of chaotic play, riddled with stoppages, as everyone struggled against a strong and unpredictable wind. "He is right, but he is a man who cannot keep a cool head sometimes," said Ecuador's right-back De la Cruz. "This was not the true Ecuador today. The morale was bad on the field and there was a lot of argument.

"No-one was happy. The morale is low and we have to do better. I think we can win the next game. I believe we can always win, if our attitude is right and we play to win.

"We need to work as a team and then hope we are lucky enough to qualify."

Delagado, 27, was the hero of Ecuador's successful qualifying campaign with nine goals and this earned him a transfer from Necaxa of Mexico to Southampton in the English premier league, but knee injuries curtailed his progress before the finals.

Asked if he felt Ecuador could recover and produce a victory in their final group clash with Croatia, he replied immediately: "No.".

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