Ecuador Vs. Peru, CONMEBOL World Cup 2014 Qualifying: Full Time, Chucho Benitez Guides Ecuador To Victory

Ecuador have added three points to their tally in CONMEBOL World Cup 2014 qualifying, defeating Peru by a final score of 2-0 at home. Both teams played to keep a clean sheet, refusing to commit bodies forward and playing almost exclusively on the counter, but Ecuador were able to find the quality to manufacture a goal. Club America star ‘Chucho’ Christian Benitez set up the chance with a brilliant assist, with Edison Mendez tapping it in for the winner. He then added another goal of his own to seal the win late.

Very few chances came in the first half and in the opening minutes of the second half. Ecuador looked the more dangerous side, though, and Peru decided to shut up shop. Claudio Pizarro was removed in a tactical move in the 62nd minute, while an injury forced Schalke star Jefferson Farfan out of the game in the 67th.

The winner would come in the 69th, and it was all about the assist. Picking the ball up at halfway, Chucho turned and ran through four Peru defenders before passing off the ball to Mendez at the top of the 18-yard box. Raul Fernandez stepped up to close down Chucho and was caught completely out of position, leaving Ecuador with a simple finish.

Benitez would add a goal of his own in the 88th minute, cementing what was already a clear man of the match performance. Club America supporters might thing he was a waste of money, costing a massive $10 million, but Chucho’s never been anything but class.

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