Unlike other games played at the Atahualpa, Ecuador weren’t the ones dominating the game the first half. During the first few minutes of the game Carlos Tenorio was subbed for Montero because of a injury. Ecuador was now playing with Caicedo as only forward. Argentina started dominating the midfield until at the 27th minute of the game Tevez dribbled his way to the goal and Elizaga took him down in the box and a penalty was given to Argentina. Thankfully Elizaga guessed the right spot and blocked the shot. The penalty that Elizaga blocked raised Ecuadors morale tremedously. Ecuador started taking long distance shots because they just couldn’t break Argentina’s defense specially with only one forward. At the start of the second half, Noboa (who didn’t play nearly as well as he did against Peru) was subbed for Palacios so now Ecuador had again two forwards. Argentina continued their control of the game and slowly as time went, Ecuador started attacking more aggressively. During the 73rd minute Zanetti passed a ball to Rodriguez who didn’t see it coming so it rebounded off his boot and Palacios got the ball and passed to Ayovi who then released a rocket to score the first goal. Ecuador wanted more so at the 82th minute Mendez dribbled into the box and team-mate Palacios takes the ball away from him and takes the ball back and takes a awkward shot and send the Atahualpa into ecstasy as the shot curls into the net and leaving Andújar in shock. Before this goal, despite making numerous appearances, Palacios failed to score with Ecuador and what a time to score. Right before the game was about to end, Valencia released a rocket that crashed the crossbar and went out.

Man of the Match: Elizaga continued his good form and was the hero of the match even before half-time. He saved the penalty that if it were to have gotten in, I promise you the game would have ended much differently. He also made many key saves including one that looked like a sure goal from Gago. Elizaga (who was born in Argentina) showed that he really is a Ecuadorian and is willing to fight to the end, thick and thin to help us go to our third World Cup. SI SE PUEDE!!

The first few minutes of the game, Peru dominating the game but little by little Ecuador started getting confidence until at the 36th minute Jefferson Montero took the ball away from Zambrano then passed it to Palacios who then passed it to Tenorio, who spotted Montero to his side and all Montero had to do it tap the ball inside the net. Ecuador was up one to zero. Peru quickly tried to recuperate from the goal and at the 50th minute Segundo Castillo took down his opponent and a free-kick was called in favor of Peru. Juan Manuel Vargas took the free-kick and curled it in passed Elizaga. After that strangely enough Ecuador started dominating the game and looked like they were the ones who were playing at home. At the 58th minute Cristian Noboa spotted Carlos Tenorio and crossed the ball to him and Tenorio scored a powerful header to give us the lead. Ecuador had numerous occasions to win a game by a larger margin but couldn’t put it in the back of the net including Jefferson Montero had a opportunity to score his brace but couldn’t put it pass the Peruvian goalkeeper, Raúl Fernández.

Jorge Guagua, Marcelo Fleitas, Jefferson Montero, Carlos Tenorio, and Pablo Palacios were playing replacing Ivan Hurtado,Giovanni Espinoza, Antonio Valencia, Felipe Caicedo and Cristian Benitez respectively because of either suspension or injury. All these players showed a superb performance and our defense (which I have to say, I was really nervous about after that friendly we had against El Salvador) stood strong with Uruguay-born Fleitas making his debut at the ripe age of 35.

Man of the Match: The man of the match has to go to “El Demoledor” Carlos Tenorio. Recovered from a serious leg injury that made him stay in the sidelines for close to seven months, he assisted youngster Jefferson Montero and scored the winning goal.