Ecuador 2-3 Bolivia: Enner Valencia leads second-half comeback but El Verde hang on to move top of Group A at Copa America

Bolivia captain Ronald Raldes gave his side the lead in the fourth minute
Martin Smedberg-Dalence doubled the lead for Bolivia inside 20 minutes
Martins Moreno made it 3-0 before half-time from the penalty spot
Enner Valencia pulled a goal back for Ecuador minutes after the interval
Miller Bolanos scored from distance to make it 3-2 but Bolivia hung on

Published:
22:56 GMT, 15 June 2015

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Updated:
00:10 GMT, 16 June 2015

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Bolivia stunned Ecuador with three goals in the first half as they climbed to the top of Group A with victory at the Elias Figueroa Stadium Monday night – their first competitive win away from home since 1995.

Captain Ronald Raldes gave Bolivia the lead after just four minutes before Martin Smedberg-Dalence increased the advantage shortly after.

Enner Valencia missed the chance to make it 2-1 when the West Ham striker saw his penalty saved by goalkeeper Romel Quinonez.

Martins Moreno celebrates after putting Bolivia 3-0 up before half-time against Ecuador in the Copa America

Moreno points to the crowd as he is joined by his team-mates after putting Bolivia into a commanding lead

The 27-year-old fired past Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez from the penalty spot

The Bolivia supporters had plenty to cheer as their team led 3-0 at the break at Elias Figueroa Stadium

A Bolivian supporter dances and blows kisses to the camera as she enjoys her team’s performance

Bolivia were three up on the stroke of half-time through Martins Moreno, who succeeded where Valencia had failed and converted from the penalty spot to give El Verde a commanding lead.

West Ham striker Valencia led a second-half comeback for Ecuador though, turning home Jefferson Montero’s cut back from close range before Miller Bolanos reduced the deficit to a single goal with a viscous, dipping strike from 25 yards.

Bolivia had earned a goalless draw with Mexico – who meet Chile in the other game in Group A on Monday night – in their opening match of the tournament.

And they got off to the perfect start in their second. Raldes found himslef unmarked in the area to head Smedberg-Dalence’s corner past Alexander Domínguez.

Bolivia had not won a Copa America match since they hosted the tournament in 1997 but gave themselves a fantastic chance when provider for the first Smedberg-Dalence turner goalscorer.

The 31-year-old was teed up by Moreno 25 yards from goal and bent a curling effort past Domínguez to double the lead.

Martin Smedberg-Dalence is congratulated by team-mates after doubling Bolivia’s lead to make it 2-0

Bolivia defender and captain Ronald Raldes celebrates after opening the scoring after just four minutes

Ecuador were presented with the perfect opportunity to half the arrears when Valencia was tugged back at the far post by Edward Zenteno.

Valencia tucked the ball away but the referee ordered it to be re-taken for apparent encroachment during the Hammers striker’s run-up.

And this time he would be denied as Romel Quinonez dived low to his right to keep Bolivia’s two-goal advantage intact.

It got even better for Mauricio Soria’s side when they were awarded a penalty of their own minutes before half-time. There was no mistake by Moreno who slotted past Domínguez.

Enner Valencia’s penalty is saved by Romel Quinonez as the Bolivia goalkeeper dives low to his right

West Ham forward Valencia puts his head in his hands after missing from the penalty spot

Ecuador were handed a life-line early in the second half when Montero took advantage of some shoddy defending before laying it on a plate for Valencia to tap into an empty net.

Ecuador poured forward and they had their reward after 83 minutes. Bolanos was afforded too much time as he advanced towards the Bolivia area before unleashing a powerful strike that dipped and swerved into the top corner.

Christian Naboa thought he had equalised just three minutes later but saw a thunderous effort come crashing back off the crossbar as Bolivia hung on for a historic victory.