Saturday, July 9, 2011
Venezuela stun Ecuador, lead Group B
Ecuadorean midfielder Edison Mendez (C) is marked by Venezuelan midfielder Juan Arango (L) and defender Gabriel Cichero.
At the Padre Ernesto Martearena stadium in Salta, Venezuela footballers took another big step in shaking off their tag as a baseball nation, by deservedly beating Ecuador for only their third ever win in the competition.
"Maestrico" (Little Master) Gonzalez scored the only goal just past the hour when he fired in a shot from outside the box past static goalkeeper Marcelo Elizaga, who was unsighted by one of his defenders.
Ecuador, without Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia, who is nursing an ankle injury, squandered several chances to save the game with hurried efforts to score an equaliser.
The group placings will be settled on Wednesday when Paraguay meet Venezuela in Salta and Brazil face Ecuador in Córdoba on Thursday.
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