Ecuador vs Chile summary: score, goal, highlights | 2026 World Cup qualifier
Ecuador vs Chile: as it happened
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They had to survive a scare right at the death, but Ecuador were good value for their win. Ángel Mena's first-half goal means La Tri are now that bit more comfortably ensconced in the automatic-qualification spots.
As for Chile, they have two tasks: appoint a full-time head coach, and turn around their qualifying campaign. La Roja are in increasing danger of missing out on a third straight World Cup.
Thanks for reading, and remember that you can follow live coverage of Brazil vs Argentina with AS USA's Paul Reidy.
Matchday six CONMEBOL scores
Here are tonight's CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying scores at a glance, with Brazil v Argentina still ongoing and Peru vs Venezuela about to kick off:
FT: Paraguay 0-1 Colombia
FT: Uruguay 3-0 Bolivia
FT: Ecuador 1-0 Chile
HT: Brazil 0-0 Argentina
9pm ET: Peru vs Venezuela
Uruguay win again - will Argentina slip to 2nd?
Elsewhere in CONMEBOL qualifying, Uruguay have beaten Bolivia 3-0 and, as things stand, have leapfrogged Argentina at the top on goal difference.
Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez scored twice for Marcelo Bielsa’s team, either side of a Gabriel Villamíl own goal.
And in that 1-0 Colombia victory over Paraguay that I mentioned a moment or two ago, Rafael Santos Borré scored a first-half penalty in Asunción to win it for Los Cafeteros.
The Colombians look set to stay third, with a large lead now over seventh and eighth.
(Photo. DANTE FERNANDEZ / AFP)
It's almost half time in Rio, where Brazil vs Argentina remains goalless.
Were the Brazilians to lose, Ecuador would leapfrog them into fifth.
Join my colleague Paul Reidy if you want to follow the action at the Maracana.
Ecuador continue to dominate Chile at home
Tonight's win for Ecuador also means that La Tri have now won six of their last seven home World Cup qualifiers against Chile.
And as Mister Chip notes, the Ecuadorians have taken 20 out of a possible 24 points at home to the Chileans in the current South American qualifying format (whereby every CONMEBOL team plays each other home and away). Only Bolivia have had less success in Ecuador than Chile.
Ecuador go clear of Chile and Paraguay
As things stand, Ecuador will be staying in sixth, in the final automatic qualification spot. However, Felix Sánchez's men have now opened up a three-point lead on both Chile and Paraguay.
The Paraguayans were beaten 1-0 by Colombia today.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 6 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 7 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 8 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Peeep peeep peeep! Ecuador survive that late Chile rally and have their third win of this World Cup qualifying campaign.
For much of the game, it felt like the hosts were on course for a comfortable victory, but the Chileans improved in the second half - and almost snatched a late leveller.
Five minutes of time added on.
Chile have certainly been better in the second half; it's their first-half display that's going to end up costing them, it looks like.
Right after that triple chance, Pérez then popped a shot over the Ecuador bar from 25 yards or so out.
My word! How have Ecuador survived that?! Chile have a triple chance to snatch a leveller.
First, Brereton meets Osorio's left-wing ball with a glancing header that bounces off the post. Alexis gobbles up the loose ball and fires a shot at goal from 12 yards or so out, but Domínguez parries. Again the ball falls to a Chile player - this time Dávila, whose drive is beaten out by a combination of Domínguez and Torres.
Every Ecuadorian in the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado breathes a HUGE sigh of relief.
Ecuador keep it for a minute or so - and, given that they're ahead, that doesn't seem like the worst of plans.
The hosts then feed it right to Preciado, who aims a shot at Cortés's top corner, but is off target.
Dávila cuts in from the right and fires a shot high, wide and handsome.
Ecuador withdraw Rodríguez and Páez, with Alan Franco and Leonardo Campana on in their stead.
A couple of minutes ago, Chile also made a double change: Vicente Pizarro and Darío Osorio replaced Núñez and Echeverría.
Now Páez spurns a chance to double Ecuador's lead! Inside the Chile box, Rodríguez pokes the ball back to Julio at the top of the 'D'.
He plays it right to Páez in shooting space, but he blazes it over!
In response, Rodríguez hits the post for Ecuador!
From the left-hand channel, he thumps a low effort towards goal from 20 yards out - and it rebounds off the upright!
Oh my. Ecuador have been much the better side, but they haven't put this game to bed and again Chile might have snatched an ill-deserved point.
Breaking at pace, the Chileans work it left to Brereton, who squares it to Alexis at the top of the box. Alexis feeds it right to Dávila... who prods a limp ball into the box that's straight to a yellow shirt.
Mena is stretchered off, and looks to be in some pain.
The goalscorer is replaced by Joao Ortiz.
Mena is down and clutching the back of his right thigh. He's tweaked his hamstring, it would seem.
Over in Rio, Brazil vs Argentina has only just kicked off. The game was delayed by half an hour by crowd trouble at the Maracana.
You can follow the action in Brazil with my colleague Paul Reidy.
Chile replace Pulgar with César Pérez.
At the other end, Caicedo tries his luck from 25 yards out, but can only send his shot right down Cortés's gullet.
Chile almost score the strangest of equalisers.
Brereton cuts in from the left, but is tackled by Arboleda. The loose ball ricochets off Echeverría and right to Dávila, who turns and shoots from 10 yards out - but can't beat Domínguez!
Alexis is fouled five yards outside of the Ecuador box, and again Núñez will strike a free-kick in a decent shooting position.
However, his shot clips the wall and won't be troubling Domínguez.
Ecuador are carving out shooting opportunities for fun right now.
From the edge of the Chile box, Páez slips it left to Rodríguez, who has peeled off into space inside the box. With his first touch, he cuts inside onto his right - and with his second, he thumps in a shot that's superbly blocked!
Preciado and Echeverría are both booked after a mini-flare-up on the Ecuador's right wing. The proverbial storm in the tea cup.
Chile had started the second half decently enough, but now Ecuador are really starting to turn the screw once again.
The hosts work it left to Caicedo, who takes one touch to steady himself on the left-hand side of the box - and thumps in a low shot towards Cortés's far corner. It looks to be flying into the net, but Cortés does very well to palm it away! A fine, fine save.
Julio is so close to scoring with his first touch!
Ecuador work it right to Preciado, who hares forward into space to cross from the right. He plays it low and first time into the Chile box, where Julio is arriving at pace. He connects well enough with his shot - though it may have been going wide - but Díaz is there to block!
Ecuador also shuffle their pack, replacing Sornoza with Julio.
Meanwhile, Caicedo has been receiving treatment for knock of some sort, but he's back up on his feet now.
Chile make a double change. Dávila and Brereton Díaz are on for Loyola and Aravena.
Núñez opts to shoot directly at goal, and the ball flies just a couple of yards past Domínguez's post. The strike appears to have got a touch off an Ecuador player, as it Chile win a corner.
They can't doing anything with it, though.
Again Chile get Alexis on the ball and into a position to hurt the Ecuador defence. He glides past Caicedo, who brings him down; the visitors have a decent-looking free-kick around 40 yards or so out.
That's bright play by Alexis in the opening stages of this second half.
The ball is played to the forward with his back to goal, some 30 yards out. He turns and wallops a shot at goal - and with Domínguez scrambling to get into position to save it, it flashes just over the crossbar!
Peeeeep!
The players are back out in Quito, and the second half is underway.
There don't appear to have been any half-time changes.
Chile interim boss Nicolás Córdova is a picture of concern during the first half at the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado.
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A reminder that you can also follow live-text coverage of Brazil vs Argentina, which is about to kick off in Rio de Janeiro.
Not looking good for Chile...
Per the Spanish soccer stats guru Mister Chip, Chile have never won an away World Cup qualifier when they've gone in for the break behind.
On the 34 previous occasions that they've been playing catch-up come half time, they've lost 28 and drawn six.
Peeep peeep peeeep!
That's half time in Quito, where Ecuador thoroughly deserve their lead.
Oh, that's a really promising break that Ecuador have wasted.
The hosts clear a Chile ball into the box, and suddenly are bursting forward in numbers. However, Páez dallies as he approaches the penalty area, and has his pocket picked.
We'll have two minutes of time added on.
That's fine play by Rodríguez, but he just ran out of room.
Receiving the ball on the wing, he gets it out of his feet and scampers towards the left-hand byline. With a gaggle of white shirts around him, though, he can't cut the ball back to a team-mate.
Chile's Pulgar is booked for a foul on Páez.
Blimey. I was just about to write that Chile were starting to settle down a little bit - but then Cortés and Díaz get in a right old muddle as the visitors pass it around in their half, again almost gifting the ball to Rodríguez.
Alexis has been involved in everything that has been good about La Roja today. They need to look for him as much as poss.
Having escaped that Chile free-kick unscathed, Ecuador spring forward in search of a second.
Mena feeds it forward to Rodríguez, who thunders into the box and lets fly. His shot is well struck, but rises a yard or two over the bar.
...which Alexis plops straight into the Ecuador wall. A waste.
Torres is the first man into Anderson Doranco's book, after scything Alexis down on the edge of the Ecuador area.
Alexis had slipped another ball out right to Aravena, who played it back to the captain at the top of the box. As he was winding up to strike on goal, he was felled.
Dangerous free-kick to Chile...
Ángel Mena celebrates his goal for Ecuador.
(Photo: Rodrigo BUENDIA / AFP)
Ecuador hoof the ball forward, and Cortés and Suazo get themselves in a bit of tangle. With Rodríguez ready and waiting to steal the ball off them, they finally get it behind for corner.
Mena delivers the corner right into the danger area, where Torres almost gets his head to it - but Cortés grabs hold.
Again Chile get Alexis on the ball; he's been at the heart of the few moments in which they've posed any kind of attacking threat.
He threads a pass out to the right to Catalán, but the full-back's cross into the box is massively overhit. It flies over everyone's head and out.
Chile enjoy a rare moment of halfway sustained possession in the Ecuador half. Alexis has space to carry the ball forward towards the hosts' penalty box, before slipping it right to Aravena.
Aravena tries to jink his way into a yard or two of space to cross, but is crowded out by Pacho and has to settle for a corner... which comes to nought.
Right away, Ecuador again have their foot on the ball and are in complete control of possession.
As things stand, La Tri are moving on to eight points. Depending on how Brazil get on against Argentina, the Ecuadorians could end the evening ahead of the Seleçao. The Brazilians have just the seven points right now.
Goal! Ecuador 1-0 Chile - Mena scores!
It had been coming.
Receiving with his back to goal some 40 yards or so out, Páez turns neatly and sets off towards the Chile box. From just outside the area, he lets fly with a low, left-footed shot that looks to be arrowing into Cortés' far corner - but the Chilean keeper parries.
Unfortunately for Cortés, he parries straight to the feet of Mena, who sweeps the ball into the net.
Every time Chile have possession, Ecuador are winning the ball back very quickly indeed.
Indeed, the latest stat I have is 65% possession for the home side.
Now Ecuador work it out right to Preciado, who tries a neat flick to buy himself a yard to cross. It doesn't come off, and he ends up fouling Suazo. Free-kick to Chile.
Back come Ecuador, who are doing most of the early running in Quito.
The hosts can't carve out an opening, though. Pacho looks to slip a ball into the corner for Rodríguez to chase, but it's too long and runs out for a Chile goal-kick.
That's a fine save by Cortés to deny Ecuador an opener!
From the left, Pacho drifts a cross over to the far post. His ball is headed away, but only as far as Rodríguez some 10 yards out from goal.
In one movement, he controls and fires a powerful drive at goal - but Cortés tips it over!
At one end, Gruezo almost releases Rodríguez in behind the Chile defence, but can't find the striker.
At the other, Alexis feeds a neat through ball into the area to find the run of Aravena, who is in space to square it. However, he was just offside when he darted in behind the Ecuador defence to receive Alexis's pass.
By the way, we also have live-text commentary of the heavyweight World Cup qualifier between Brazil and Argentina.
You can join my colleague Paul Reidy for that game, which kicks off at 7:30pm ET.
Caicedo whips the corner deep into the Chile box - and after a moment's hesitation from the visiting defence, the Chelsea midfielder's delivery finally misses everyone and drifts through for a goal-kick.
Ecuador start on the front foot, keeping the ball for pretty much the entirety of the first three minutes.
After popping it about inside the Chile half, the hosts get Pacho into a position to charge towards the left-hand byline and win a corner.
Peeep!
Referee Anderson Daronco gets us up and running in the Ecuadorian capital!
A reminder of the teams
Ecuador:
Domínguez, Preciado, Torres, Arboleda, Pacho, Caicedo, Gruezo, Mena, Páez, Sornoza, Rodríguez.
Chile:
Cortés, Catalán, Díaz, Maripán, Suazo, Loyola, Pulgar, Echevarría, Núñez, Sánchez, Aravena.
Anthems done!
Next up it's the Ecuadorian anthem - and the home players are not touched by the almighty on the singing front either, I can confirm.
Almost time for kick-off in Quito!
Teams out in Quito!
Ecuador and Chile are out on the field at the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, and we're into the anthems. The visitors first.
We appear to have a very sensitive mic in the vicinity of the Chilean players. Their ability to hold a tune is not the best, by the sounds of things.
Ecuador on long unbeaten home run against Chile
Ecuador’s record in home World Cup qualifiers against Chile is very, very good.
La Tri have only lost once to the Chileans on home soil - and that was a 1-0 defeat all the way back in February 1977, in qualifying for the 1978 tournament in Argentina.
The countries’ most recent World Cup meeting in Ecuador was in September 2021, ahead of Qatar 2022.
That game ended goalless - and was the first time in six home World Cup qualifiers that Ecuador had failed to beat Chile.
What the coaches said: Nicolás Córdova
Stepping into Berizzo's shoes:
“It’s always a tough one when a coach leaves, because there’s a kind of period of mourning. We know it’s a difficult situation - above all, a coach usually has a bit more time to work with their team. And it’s particularly challenging in these circumstances, when you’re in World Cup qualifying.”
Players must show character in Quito:
“Above all, I hope we show plenty of personality in this game. I’m sure there’ll be moments when Ecuador are going to have us pinned back in our own half, and we’ll have to show our ability to defend. And I’m sure there are going to be moments when we push them back. We're going to have to be mindful of Ecuador’s ability to hit us on the break, as they’re very quick and direct in attack.”
Ecuador fans inside the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado ahead of kick-off.
EFE/ Julio Estrella
Sánchez on Córdova: “I know him - he’s a really good coach"
Speaking to reporters ahead of today’s match, Felix Sánchez also talked about Chile caretaker Nicolás Córdova - a coach the Spaniard is familiar with.
“I know him - he’s a really good coach,” Sánchez said. “He’s very methodical, a keen analyst of the game. He’s very highly thought of, both as a guy and as a professional.
“It’s true that he’s just come in and won’t have had a lot of time to get his ideas across, but I’m sure he’s going to send out a well drilled team with a clear game plan.”
I’m assuming that Sánchez knows Córdova from their respective stints in the Qatari national-team set-up. The latter actually replaced the former as Qatar Under-23s boss in 2020.
What the coaches said: Felix Sánchez
Calls for Ecuador to play more attacking style:
“I know that the way we play isn’t going to be to everyone’s liking - I respect that. There are 17 million Ecuadorians, so it’s hard to keep everyone happy […]. We’ve just started a new cycle and we hope to keep on improving with time.”
Clarion call to Ecuador fans:
“We’d like to see a full stadium. We’re going to go out there to win the game, make the fans happy and achieve our goal. The lads are clear on that […]. There are many things you can talk about [when discussing how to improve], but these lads always give their all. They’re raring to go, and it’s important that the crowd are right behind us.”
Chile without skipper Medal as Córdova switches things up
As for Chile, interim boss Nicolás Córdova makes four changes to the team that began the goalless draw with Paraguay on Thursday.
Matías Catalán, Felipe Loyola, Marcelino Núñez and Alexander Aravena come into La Roja’s starting line-up, in place of Gary Medel, Víctor Dávila, Ben Brereton Díaz and Vicente Pizarro.
Captain Medel is unavailable through suspension.
Three changes for Ecuador
Felix Sánchez makes three changes to the Ecuador team that drew 0-0 with Venezuela last week.
Roberto Arboleda, Carlos Gruezo and Ángel Mena are in, with Piero Hincapié, José Cifuentes and Alan Franco making way.
Hincapié and Cifuentes are both suspended.
Chile team news
Nicolás Córdova's Chile line-up has also been confirmed: Cortés; Catalán, Díaz, Maripán, Suazo; Loyola, Pulgar, Echevarría; Núñez; Sánchez, Aravena.
Ecuador team news
Ecuador boss Felix Sánchez has named his line-up. It is: Domínguez, Preciado, Torres, Arboleda, Pacho, Caicedo, Gruezo, Mena, Páez, Sornoza, Rodríguez.
Ecuador won't have forgotten Chile role in Castillo-gate
By the way, Ecuador's points deduction ought to add a nice little bit of edge to tonight's game in Quito - after all, it was Chile who complained to FIFA about Castillo!
(Photo: Andres Pina/Photosport)
Ecuador out to continue 21st-century WC run
Ecuador, who are now coached by former Qatar boss Felix Sánchez, are bidding to reach their fifth World Cup since the turn of the millennium.
Their World Cup record over the past couple of decades is all the more impressive when you consider that they didn't qualify for a single one in the 20th century.
(Photo: RODRIGO BUENDIA / AFP)
Where are Ecuador in CONMEBOL standings?
As for Ecuador, they've won two and drawn two since losing their opening qualifier to world champions Argentina. However, a three-point deduction means La Tri are level on points with Chile.
The Ecuadorians were docked points by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after they were found to have used ID documents that falsified defender Byron Castillo's place of birth during qualifying for World Cup 2022.
Ecuador currently sit sixth, inside the automatic qualification spots by virtue of goal difference.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Chile out to avoid third straight WC absence
As I mentioned a few moments ago, Chile are bidding to reach their first World Cup since 2014.
La Roja made it to successive tournaments in 2010 and nine years ago, reaching the knockout stages in both. It was the first time they had qualified for back-to-back World Cups since the 1960s.
However, the Chileans then failed to even make the intercontinental playoff spot in qualifying for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022. They haven't missed three World Cups in a row in nearly 30 years.
Where are Chile in the CONMEBOL standings?
As things stand, Chile sit eighth in South America's 10-team qualifying group, outside of the qualification spots on goal difference.
The top six go through to the World Cup automatically, while the seventh-placed team heads into the inter-continental playoffs for a ticket to the tournament.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Córdova steps in as Chile caretaker
Former Chile international Nicolás Córdova has taken interim charge of La Roja, who are in an uphill battle to reach their first World Cup since 2014.
Córdova has been promoted from Chile's youth-team set-up, which he had only joined in August.
(Photo: JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)
Chile reeling from Berizzo resignation
The Chileans go to Ecuador in a state of turmoil, following the sudden resignation of their head coach, Eduardo 'Toto' Berizzo.
Berizzo, who had been in charge since May 2022, announced his departure after Thursday's disappointing draw with Paraguay - a game that ended goalless despite Chile playing with an extra man for half of the match.
(Photo: Andres Pina/Photosport)
Ecuador vs Chile: welcome!
Good evening, good afternoon, good morning - whichever applies to you.
Welcome to our live-text coverage of Ecuador and Chile's matchday-six World Cup qualifier, which gets underway in Quito at 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT.
The teams are level on points, but sit either of side of the dividing line between qualification and elimination - so it's fair to say that today's clash in the Ecuadorian capital is muy importante.
Team news should be dropping in about an hour's time.