Bolivia claimed their first Copa America victory in 18 years with a 3-2 victory over Ecuador in Valparaiso on Monday, leaving the winners in pole position to progress from Group A, as the victory meant they momentarily took top spot in the group.
Bolivia took the lead just 5 minutes into the game as captain Ronald Raldes was left unmarked from a corner and headed home from close range. Poor marking by Ecuador’s Fidel Martínez, allowed the veteran defender the space needed to head home the opener. Bolivia increased their lead in the 18th minute as they capitalized on more poor defending from Ecuador after full back Walter Ayoví lost the ball on the edge of his own area. Marcelo Moreno laid the ball off to Martin Smedberg-Dalence, who curled home from outside the area to punish the Ecuadorians once again.
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Ecuador had the opportunity to get back into the game as the referee awarded them a penalty after Enner Valencia was brought down by Edward Zenteno. Valencia stepped up and converted the penalty, but he was forced to retake the spot kick as Pedro Quiñónez entered the box too early. Valencia stepped up once again, but this time saw his penalty saved by Romel Quiñónez down to his right hand side. That was a missed opportunity for Ecuador, who were dominating the game.
Bolivia were then gifted the chance to score from the penalty spot themselves as Frickson Erazo attempted to clear the ball, but the referee judged his boot to be too high as he nearly clattered Damián Lizio in the face.
Moreno stepped up and coolly slotted home to put his side 3-0 up on the verge of half time. Three defensive errors from Ecuador, and they were down 3 and facing an uphill battle to take anything from the game despite dominating for most of it.
Ecuador clawed a goal back just after half time in the 48th minute, as Valencia got his goal thanks to Jefferson Montero taking advantage of unsure defending from Bolivia. Montero found space in the penalty area with great skill and picked out Valencia, who made no mistake in finding the target from close range. Ecuador continued to dominate the game but Bolivia’s defense was doing well to hold off the fast-paced attacking play from Ecuador.
Half-time substitute Alex Ibarra had a chance get Ecuador right back into the game as he found space behind the Bolivia defense but was denied by Quinonez, who made a vital stop. Ecuador eventually found their second of the night thanks to a sensational strike from Miller Bolaños. The strike gave Ecuador hope of scraping at least a point from the game with 10 minutes remaining, as his powerful effort from about 30 yards found the back the net.
Ecuador came close to equalizing but Christian Noboa’s strike from distance was denied by the woodwork. Juan Cazares also came extremely close to leveling for Ecuador but his effort was superbly saved from Quinonez, as the goalkeeper saved his side from heartbreak once again with another vital stop late in the game.
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Bolivia held on for the win despite being dominated, and managed to come away from the game with all three points meaning they will sit top of group A for the moment. They will have to thank goalkeeper Quinonez as he pulled off some vital stops to ensure the points for his country. As for Ecuador, their campaign is all but over, and they can only blame themselves as defensive errors have been costly, particularly in this game against Bolivia as all three goals conceded were due to errors at the back.