CURITIBA, Brazil (AP) — Ecuador forward Enner Valencia scored twice in a 2-1 comeback victory over Honduras on Friday that kept his team in contention at the World Cup.
Ecuador moved into second spot in Group E with a game remaining against group-leading France, which has tallied eight goals and conceded two in a pair of dominating wins.
Honduras took the lead in the 31st minute with their first goal at the World Cup 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 tournament.
Valencia equalized three minutes later, tapping in with his left foot from close range after Brayan Beckeles had failed to clear a cross from the right.
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.
Group E Standings
Win
Loss
Draw
Goals For
Goals Against
Points
France
2
0
0
8
2
6
Ecuador
1
1
0
3
3
3
Switzerland
0
1
0
4
6
3
Honduras
0
2
0
1
5
0
Schedule and Results
Sunday, June 15
Switzerland 2, Ecuador 1
France 3, Honduras 0
Friday, June 20
France 5, Switzerland 2
Ecuador 2, Honduras 1
Wednesday, June 25
4 p.m.: Ecuador vs France at Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro
4 p.m.: Honduras vs Switzerland at Arena Amazonia, Manaus
