Second half goals from Arturo Vidal and Eduardo Vargas secure vital victory for host nation, Chile, in Copa America curtain raiser.
The host nation broke the deadlock in the 67th minute after Vidal emphatically converted a penalty kick, before Vargas secured all three points for the Chileans in the dying embers of the game.
Sanchez spurns early chances
Inside the first 5 minutes, Alexis Sanchez spurned two glorious opportunities to give the host nation the lead. After some neat interplay between Jorge Valdivia and Arturo Vidal on the edge of the penalty area, the Arsenal forward latched onto a loose touch from Vidal and burst through the heart of the Ecuadorian defence. However, Sanchez’s subsequent effort on goal from just inside the penalty area was poked narrowly wide of the Alexander Dominguez’s left hand post.
Moments later a beautifully weighted free kick from Valdivia on the half-way line found Sanchez unmarked on the right hand side of the penalty area who, after controlling the ball, attempted to loft the ball over the head of the onrushing Dominguez. The chipped effort was well read by the Ecuador goalkeeper however, and he was able to comfortably palm the ball clear of danger.
Despite being largely dominant throughout the remainder of the first half; Chile’s attacking threat was nullified effectively by a well organised Ecuador outfit. Chile finally found a way into the penalty area and past a resilient Ecuadorian defence in the 40th minute, when Mauricio Isla was played through by Vidal. The former Udinese wing-back’s subsequent effort on goal from the right of the penalty area however, curled just wide of the far post.
The host nation were undoubtedly superior in possession of the ball during the opening 45 minutes, but there was an explicit lack of cutting edge shown by the Chileans in their periods of territorial dominance. In order to address this issue Chile manager, Jorge Sampaoli, brought Eduardo Vargas on at half-time to support Alexis Sanchez up front.
The first clear cut chance of the second half however, fell to Ecuador’s Enner Valencia. A powerful run down the left flank from Jefferson Montero, culminated in the Swansea City winger pulling the ball back to Valencia on the edge of the penalty area. The forward subsequently rushed his effort on goal, side footed the ball carelessly wide of the foot post.
Substitute, Vargas, almost made the impact he was brought on to have when he latched onto a beautifully weighted pass from Alexis Sanchez. The 25-year-old forward rifled the ball towards the top right corner, however, Dominguez was on hand to palm the ball clear of danger.
Vidal converts to give Chile the lead
Chile finally broke the deadlock through Arturo Vidal. After being pulled down just inside the penalty area by Miller Bolanos, the Juventus midfielder stepped up and confidently side-footed the ball into the top right corner of Dominguez’s goal.
Although it seemed certain that the Chileans would comfortably see out the remainder of the game, with just ten minutes remaining, Ecuador came within inches of stealing a late point. West Ham United forward, Enner Valencia, rose highest in the centre of the penalty area from Walter Ayovi’s chipped delivery, to head the ball off the top of the cross-bar.
Vargas seals all three points
Just three minutes later, Chile finally sealed all three points. Alexis Sanchez latched onto a careless pass from Renato Ibarra intended for Erazo, before feeding the ball into the path of his strike partner, Eduardo Vargas, on the left of the penalty area. After controlling the ball, the Napoli forward coolly slid the ball under body of the Ecuador number one and into the bottom right corner of the net.
Inside stoppage time, substitute Matias Fernandez was given his marching orders after referee, Nestor Fabian Pitana, adjudged the Chilean’s challenge on Paredes to be worthy of a second yellow card.
Although the host nation won the Group A opener the lack of cutting edge in the final third, in particular during the first half, will undoubtedly worry Sampaoli. It is clear that Chile's 'greatest generation' must improve if they are to win this year's Copa America.