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Bolivia dominated the first half, finding the net three times over. Ecuador put in a hearty performance in the second, but could only claw back two goals.
Copa America Chile 2015 has already established itself as a tournament for underdogs with Venezuela and Paraguay delivering shock results. Bolivia caused the next upset Monday beating Ecuador 3-2, in one of the most entertaining games of the competition so far that is likely to have brought La Tri’s campaign to an end.
Bolivia landed the first cold slap after five minutes when Ronald Raldes slotted in a header from a corner throw.
Bolivian-Swedish midfielder Martin Smedberg-Dalence doubled up the tally just over ten minutes later with a surprise volley from way outside the area. With this, sluggish Ecuador finally snapped awake, when West Ham forward Enner Valencia narrowly missing a couple of chances.
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It looked as if Ecuador was about to claw one back when Valencia potted a penalty, only for it to be discounted due to a technicality. Moments later, Bolivia was given its own penalty, and Marcelo Martins, striker for Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai converted it, to the dismay of a panicking Ecuadorean side.
As the second period began, what should have been a comfortable ride for Bolivia, with a three-goal cushion, turned into a nightmare, as a defiant Ecuador came back with all guns blazing.
Two minutes in saw a perfunctory goal from Valencia with help from Jefferson Montero bringing the scoreline to 3-1. No celebrating here: the team had some catching up to do.
From then on La Tri’s shots on goal rained down hard and fast, only being stopped from at least equalizing by hearty goalkeeping from Romel Quiñónez.
But the strikes continued to spray in like machine-gun fire, and finally Miller Bolaños found the target with a tremendous shot from half-way up the pitch.
But even though Ecuador kept up the pressure up to the last moment, with Cristian Noboa hitting the bar, the World Cup Brazil 2014 qualifiers were disappointed.
With two losses in the first round of the competition, the chances that Ecuador will continue to the next stages of Copa America have narrowed to a hair’s width, while Bolivia, having drawn their last, stand every chance of going through. But a performance like their second half against Ecuador will not be enough to take them to final stages, not to mention their lack of a star like Enner Valencia.
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