Reuters
Los Angeles, June 9: Ecuador celebrated their comeback for a 2-2 draw with Peru at the Copa America Centenario as if they had won after keeping their quarterfinal hopes alive.
Peru raced into a two-goal lead after 13 minutes of Wednesday’s Group B match at Glendale, Arizona before striker Enner Valencia pulled one back in the 39th and Miller Bolanos equalised in the 48th.
Having drawn 0-0 with Brazil in their opening Group B match, Ecuador’s hopes of a place in the quarterfinals depend on beating modest Haiti and the result between the Brazilians and Peruvians in Sunday’s last group matches.
Brazil and Peru have four points with the Brazilians top of the group on goal difference after a 7-1 rout of Haiti, Wednesday. Ecuador have two points and Haiti none.
Christian Cueva put Peru in front in the fifth minute and Edison Flores increased their lead in the 13th from Paolo Guerrero’s headed lay-off. Valencia volleyed a superb goal six minutes before halftime to get Ecuador back into the match. Bolanos levelled the score in the 48th from Montero’s pass.
Ecuador defender Gabriel Achilier will miss the match against Haiti in East Rutherford after being sent off in added time following a second yellow card for a foul on Guerrero.
In another match, Philippe Coutinho completed a hat-trick as Brazil routed Haiti 7-1. Coutinho conjured up the sort of form which made him one of Liverpool’s most potent attackers in the Premier League last season as the Brazilians outclassed Haiti in the first ever competitive meeting of the two nations.
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder grabbed his first two goals inside the first half hour of a one-sided Group B game at Orlando’s Citrus Bowl in Florida. Coutinho then grabbed his third in the dying seconds of injury time.
