Soccer: Cool Ecuador win again

Ecuador's Ivan Kaviedes scores past Costa Rica's Jose Porras this morning. Picture / Reuters

HAMBURG - A year ago in Germany, Mexico surprised everyone at the Confederations Cup, this time Ecuador could be the ones to turn heads at the World Cup after reaching the second round with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica on this morning.

The Mexicans reached the final four of the World Cup warm-up event and if Ecuador continue to play with the business-like confidence and creativity they have shown so far, bookmakers will need to rethink the odds on them going even further.

Against Costa Rica today, Ecuador, playing in only their second finals, won comfortably without seeming to break a sweat, controlling the pace of the game throughout.

At various points in the game, in particular after their first goal scored by Carlos Tenorio in the eighth minute, they took charge by stringing together short and accurate passes. One such wave produced 14 passes in total.

Ecuador and hosts Germany have both qualified from Group A, but the South Americans are top of the group after beating Poland 2-0 in their opening game. The group winners will be settled when Germany play Ecuador in Berlin on June 20.

When Costa Rica did try to attack, Ecuador seemed so confident in defence that even their supporters believed there was no real threat that they would concede a goal.

Up front they are potent on all levels. First-choice strikers, Carlos Tenorio and Agustin Delgado, the scorer of the second goal, along with substitute and the third goalscorer, Ivan Kaviedes all showed terrific touch and pace.

Before the tournament, Costa Rica coach Alexandre Guimaraes said his team needed to be tougher and he repeated his call before the Ecuador game. But his players failed to respond.

Technically they showed neat skills, but they were reliant on long balls aimed at Paulo Wanchope which the veteran striker was never able to reach.

The Ticos may be seen as the minnows in the group, but they were playing at the finals for a third time, one more than their opponents.

Ecuador, in the second round for the first time, seem to have a lot more power left in their engine.

- REUTERS