GLENDALE, Ariz. — Peru was within sight of a place in the quarterfinals, but Ecuador mounted an impressive two-goal comeback to split the points in a thrilling encounter.
Goals from Christian Cueva and Edison Flores had Peru on cloud nine after just 13 minutes, but Ecuador rallied to pick up a 2-2 draw at University of Phoenix Stadium on Wednesday night. The comeback started with a strong Enner Valencia volley in the 39th minute, and was completed by a tap-in finish from Miller Bolanos three minutes after halftime.
The draw leaves Ecuador with two points from two games and in third place in Group B while dropping Peru to second with four points.
Christian Cueva scored the opener for Peru in the fifth minute, and did so in spectacular fashion. After receiving a short diagonal pass from striker Paolo Guerrero, Cueva pulled a smooth 180-spin and nutmegged centerback Gabriel Achilier before firing a low shot into the back of the net.
If Peru was on cloud nine after that strike, it might have created another level entirely eight minutes later. Edison Flores doubled the lead for the Peruvians on the play, collecting a pass from Guerrero and turning to tuck a shot just inside the near post.
Enner Valencia and Antonio Valencia combined with one another minutes before halftime to bring the Ecuadorians back to life. A poor Alberto Rodriguez clearance fell to the former, and the latter collected the floated in pass and chested it down before smashing a perfect and potent volley to the corner.
Ecuador did not have to wait long into the second half to pull level, as another ball clipped into the penalty area caught Rodriguez napping. Jefferson Montero, who was left onside on the play because of Rodriguez, raced to the ball down the left and hit a low cross that Bolanos only had to push home from close range.
The Peruvians had a goal in the 55th minute disallowed, and also saw a shot from Raul Ruidiaz go inches wide at the death.
Ecuador finished the match with 10 men after Achilier was sent off with a second yellow card in the 93rd minute.
MAN OF THE MATCH
It took a while for the Ecuadorians to find their rhythm, but they did thanks in large part to the play of Enner Valencia. The veteran striker used his speed, strength, and aggressiveness on the ball to help lead the Ecuador attack, and his incredible finish minutes before halftime was both impressive and vital.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Ecuador finding a late first-half goal was instrumental to its comeback. Not only did Valencia’s goal bring the Ecuadorians to within one, but it also gave them newfound confidence. Ecuador was the better side for much of the second half, and it found a tying goal before threatening to score a winner on multiple occasions.
MATCH TO FORGET
Alberto Rodriguez might be having nightmares for the next few days. It was his poor, low clearance in the first half that gave the Ecuadorians the ball in a dangerous spot in the 39th minute, and he only compounded matters by leaving Enner Valencia onside to score the goal. Rodriguez was at least partially at fault on the equalizer as well, as he was one of a couple of players to leave Montero onside for the cross that Bolanos pushed home.
