Ecuador 1-2 Chile
He was trending after his first game in the 2019 Copa America, now he has scored the winner in his second match and created even more Copa America highlights.
Could SBOBET and the footballing world be about to witness the revival of Alexis Sanchez?
Certainly, Chile remain in contention to rewrite the tournament history books after this hard fought victory.
Highlights of the game
After failing to score since January 25, until this competition, Sanchez is proving a pivotal figure in the early stages as proven as he inflicted a second straight defeat on lowly Ecuador.
It wasn’t all straightforward.
Despite scoring his 43rd goal for his country, the Man United man – out of form or injured for much of the 2018/19 campaign – continued to play on even though he aggravated an injury in the first half.
Jose Fuenzalida had given the reigning champions the lead inside the opening 10 minutes with his fifth international goal but Enner Valencia equalised for Ecuador against the balance of play from the penalty spot, the spot-kick awarded when goalkeeper Gabriel Arias clattered Jhegson Méndez.
Chile were increasingly direct as the half went on as both teams struggled to impact in the attacking third, while fouls saw the game robbed of rhythm.
Sanchez scored the winner after half-time, from a Charles Aranguiz pass (he now has three assists in this tournament), chipping in a side-footed volley.
Chile coach Reinaldo Rueda praised Sanchez for playing on, adding that the ankle was not the same one he injured in May.
Brimming with energy and enthusiasm, the 2015 and 2016 Copa America champions actually finished the game against 10 men after Gabriel Achilier’s late red card for an elbow on Arturo Vidal as they became the second side, after Colombia, to qualify for the knockout stages after two games.
Ecuador certainly seem to have the look of a team which knows its chance may have gone.
Placed in a tough group, its coach, Hernán Darío Gómez, gave the briefest of post-match news conferences, saying he was not in the mood to take questions and gave a short assessment of the game before leaving.
Experienced head coach Gomez has a fine pedigree, taking this nation, Colombia and Panama to World Cup tournaments.
However, the 63-year-old deep down knows with a few exceptions – recently departed Manchester United man Antonio Valencia (a second half substitute in this one) and his namesake Enner among them – the overall quality at his disposal is moderate.
Key statistics
La Roja have now kept clean sheets in eight of their last 14 Copa America matches.
Chile are unbeaten in their last seven America Cup games (won six, drawn one) – their longest unbeaten run in the competition since 1945.
Apart from being the 10th South American player with the most caps in history, Sanchez is the 10th all-time top scorer among South American nations.
Ecuador have had a man sent-off in their opening two games of the tournament.
Two of the three red cards seen in the first two matchdays of the 2019 Copa America were shown to Ecuadorian players (Jose Quintero v Uruguay, Achilier v Chile); also Venezuela’s Luis Del Pino Mago, against Peru.
Enner Valencia has scored 29 goals in 50 games for Ecuador and has had a hand in seven of the last 12 goals of his national team in Copa America tournaments (five goals, two assists).
Ecuador have lost seven of their eight Copa America games under Gómez (won one, lost two in 2001, lost three in 2004, lost two in 2019).
They are without a win in their last 13 meetings with South American nations in Copa America tournaments (drawn three, lost 10) with their last win in such games coming in 2001, against Venezuela.
Chile have now triumphed in four of their last four meetings with Ecuador, including the last three in the Copa America.
Ecuador last managed to defeat Chile in the Copa America in 1997.
What’s next?
It’s Uruguay next for Chile in a shoot-off to decide who tops Group C.
That matched will be played at the Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho and Chile only need a draw to be certain of top spot. They may have qualified but they’ll still be looking to finish top of the group to secure a favourable draw in the last eight.
With the Copa America betting odds stacked against them, Ecuador meet Japan in the Estadio Governador Magalhaes Pinto knowing they must win to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stages as one of the two best ranked third-place finishers.
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