Enner Valencia’s two calmly-taken goals secured a 2-1 comeback win for Ecuador over Honduras on Friday and put the team in second spot in a group that is likely to be won by France. The two goals took Valencia’s tournament tally to three.
Honduras took the lead in the 31st minute with their first World Cup goal in 32 years when Carlo Costly latched onto a long ball following a misjudgment from Ecuador defender Jorge Guagua. The goal ended a 511-minute drought that stretched back to the 1982 World Cup.
Valencia equalized three minutes later, tapping in with his left foot from close range after sloppy Honduran defending failed to stop a cross in from the right.
In the second half, Valencia’s winner came in the 65th minute when he out-jumped the Honduras defense to head home a left-sided free kick from Walter Ayovi. Valencia only consolidated his position in the Ecuador starting lineup after star striker Christian Benitez died from a heart problem last July.