Football
2015 Copa América, Group Stage 2015
ECU 
2
FT
 BOL
3
PA Sport 9y

Bolivia shock Ecuador, near first knockout stage appearance since '97

Bolivia held off a determined second-half fightback from Ecuador to seal the first win of their Copa America campaign at Estadio Elias Figueroa in Valparaiso.

The 1963 champions, who held Mexico to a goalless draw in their opening Group A game, appeared to be coasting to victory thanks to Ronald Raldes' header, Martin Smedberg-Dalence's strike and a penalty from Marcelo Martins.

Ecuador came storming back after the interval with Enner Valencia, who had missed a first-half spot-kick, and Miller Bolanos scoring to set up a tense finale -- but Bolivia held on to claim a 3-2 win.

Ecuador look set for a group stage exit, having also lost to tournament hosts Chile in their opener.

They were immediately on the back foot after falling behind in the fifth minute, when Raldes was given far too much space to plant a free header low into the corner of the net from Smedberg-Dalence's corner.

Mauricio Soria's men -- ranked 89th in the FIFA rankings, 58 places below their opponents -- continued to remain on the front foot and doubled their lead in the 18th minute.

Walter Ayovi conceded possession to Martins before the ball was spread to Smedberg-Dalence, whose first-time strike from just outside the area nestled into the bottom right corner.

The double blow seemed to galvanise Ecuador with Fidel Martinez miscuing his strike from a decent position while Valencia's close range effort was brilliantly kept out by Romel Quinonez.

The Bolivia goalkeeper's trailing legs helped thwart Cristian Noboa before Ecuador were given the ideal chance to get back into the match in the 38th minute when Edward Zenteno pulled back Valencia in the area.

The West Ham striker took the penalty himself but Quinonez guessed right to keep out the low effort, with the miss compounded when Bolivia were awarded a spot-kick of their own less than two minutes later.

A mix-up between Frickson Erazo and Ayovi led to the latter booting Damian Lizio in the face after the midfielder had stolen a march.

Martins made no mistake with his effort, thumping the ball high into the top corner to leave Dominguez, who guessed right, with no chance.

But Ecuador narrowed the deficit just two minutes after the restart when Jefferson Montero battled past two defenders and into the box before squaring for Valencia to tap into an empty net.

Gustavo Quinteros' men continued to push forward but just as it seemed Bolivia would comfortably hold on, Bolanos set up a tense finale with a 25-yard piledriver in the 82nd minute.

Noboa saw a similarly powerful effort crash against the bar while Juan Cazares Sevillano and Lizio saw efforts saved by Quinonez, who thwarted Ecuador's hopes of a leveller.

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