Paraguay has earned a deserved draw against Ecuador in Quito on Friday in their World Cup qualifying game.
Ecuador, who is unbeaten on home soil for 18 matches in World Cup qualifiers, earned a point late in the game thanks to a goal from Angel Mena.
Ecuador did start the game brilliantly and had multiple opportunities to open the scoring. Christian Noboa had the first opportunity to open the scoring for Ecuador only to find himself denied by the Paraguay’s keeper, Justo Villar.
In an entertaining match, Paraguay also had their chances early on with Jorge Benitez missing a good opportunity to score.
It is Ecuador who opened the score in the match in the 20th minutes thanks to a goal by West Ham player Enner Valencia. Noboa fired a shot from 25 yards which hit the post and Valencia was the first man on the rebound. After a wonderful chest control, he placed the ball beyond the reach of Villar to put Ecuador in front.
Paraguay was not discouraged by the goal and instead continued to create opportunities of their own. The best opportunity to equalized came in the 32nd minute with a free-kick where Bruno Valdez header went wide of the target. Paraguay finally managed to equalize in the 38th minute through Dario Lezcano. Ortigoza managed to find Edgar Benitez with a superb pass to start a brilliant counter attack. Benitez escapes Dominguez challenge to pass the ball to Lezcano for a tap in.
After the break, both teams continue to create goal scoring opportunities but it is Lezcano who scored his second goal to give Paraguay the lead in the match. He escaped the challenge from Erazo and Achiller and beat Dominguez with a great finish.
The match stayed the same until the goal from Mena seven minutes from time. Mena chipped the ball over the Paraguay keeper after a magnificent ball from Noboa to keep Ecuador unbeaten record intact.