23:39 | Glendale (USA), Jun. 8.
Peru struck twice early, but Ecuador gathered themselves and rallied with two unanswered goals to force a
2-2 draw in the second Group B match for both teams Wednesday in Glendale, Arizona on Wednesday night.
Christian Cueva scored in the 5th minute and Edison Flores in the 13th, both assisted by Paolo Guerrero.
Guerrero was a difficult mark for Ecuador’s defense in the first half. Cueva’s turn with the ball sent defender Gabriel Achilier to the ground and freed the Peru attacker to place the ball past Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez.
Peru looked to be in control when Flores scored, but Ecuador battled back. Antonio Valencia chipped to Enner Valencia, who chested the ball down and slid it into the net to cut the lead in half in the 39th minute.
Ecuador’s momentum carried over into the second half. In the 48th minute, Jefferson Montero completed a combination of passes by tapping the ball back to Miler Bolanos, who finished from close range to lock the score at 2-2.
Peru’s Raul Ruidiaz had one last shot just before the final whistle, but it went wide. Achilier was given a red card for his second yellow after the play, but one final kick ended the match.
La Blanquirroja held on for a draw and with four points, are in second place in the group behind Brazil on goal differential.
Ecuador came back from a 0-2 deficit in a Copa America match for the first time since 1983 against Argentina.
Ecuador is in third with two points. They take on Haiti Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. Peru meets Brazil in Foxborough, Mass., on the same night.
Information provided by 2016 Copa America Centennial news department
(END) NDP/MVB
Published: 6/8/2016