Impressed by captain Enner Valencia, Ecuador impressed once more on the World Cup on Friday in a 1-1 draw with the favoured Netherlands in a recreation the South American aspect deserved to win.
Valencia has develop into a talisman on the largest stage and his Forty ninth-minute leveller towards the Dutch made him the highest scorer at this World Cup along with his third purpose in Qatar.
It additionally prolonged the 33-year-old veteran’s streak to scoring all six Ecuador objectives at World Cups for the reason that 2014 match.
The consequence eradicated host nation Qatar simply six days after the beginning of its residence World Cup.
The draw gave each the Netherlands and Ecuador one level apiece to maneuver them to 4 factors in Group A. It left Qatar with zero factors after dropping 3-1 to Senegal hours earlier.
Ecuador dominated a lot of the sport after Cody Gakpo fired the Dutch right into a sixth-minute lead. Valencia levelled the rating by placing the ball into an empty web after Pervis Estupinan’s shot was pushed away by Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert.
Ecuador virtually bought a deserved profitable purpose minutes later when the Netherlands crossbar was rattled by a rising left-foot shot from Gonzalo Plata.
Ecuador might must do it with out Valencia. He was stretchered off the sector within the ninetieth minute. He was capable of stand up and stroll to the bench, the place a bag of ice was taped to his proper leg.