Valencia double helps Ecuador to victory over Honduras

Fernando Vergara, dpa

A goal in each half from Enner Valencia helped Ecuador to a 2-1 victory over Honduras Friday in their World Cup Group E encounter in Curitiba.

Carlo Costly took advantage of a defensive error by Jorge Guagua to put Honduras in front in the 31st minute but the lead lasted just three minutes as Valencia turned in a wayward shot by team-mate Juan Paredes at the far post to make it 1-1.

Valencia secured victory for Ecuador in the 65 minute, heading home a pin-point Christian Noboa free-kick from close range.

The win moves Ecuador onto three points and into second spot in Group E ahead of Switzerland on goal difference. Reinaldo Rueda's side next play France who top the group with a maximum six points following their 5-2 drubbing of the Swiss while Honduras remain bottom without a point and take on Ottmar Hitzfeld's side in their final game.

In a bruising encounter, Felipe Caicedo tested Honduras goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez in the early stages but the first gilt-edged opportunity of the match fell to team-mate Valencia only for the 24-year-old striker to shoot wide under pressure from Honduras defender Emilio Izaguirre.

Defender Victor Bernardez spurned Honduras' first clear goalscoring chance in the 28th minute when heading wide but Honduras avoided making unwanted history three minutes later as Costly scored to ensure his country did not set a new record for the longest streak without a World Cup goal.

Costly's strike was the Hondurans first World Cup goal in 510 minutes, meaning the Central Americans have not surpassed the previous longest streak for going with scoring at a finals, held by Bolivia at 517 minutes, which was snapped at the 1994 World Cup.

The last time Honduras scored a World Cup goal came at the 1982 finals when Antonio Laing scored in the 60th minute of a 1-1 draw against Northern Ireland.

The lead lasted just three minutes, however, as Valencia pounced to make it 1-1.

Honduras remained a threat going forward despite the setback and were almost back in front just before the break but Jerry Bengtson's effort was ruled out for steering the ball into the net with his hand when Costly's header came back off a post.

In an evenly-matched second half, Honduras were lucky not to concede a penalty after 58 minutes when Maynor Figueroa made contact with Felipe Caicedo in the area while Ecuador goalkeeper Dominguez turned a Bengston shot around the post shortly before the hour mark.

The Central Americans' luck finally ran out in the 65 minute when Valencia netted his second goal of the game, heading home a pin-point Christian Noboa free-kick from close range.

Honduras pressed forward in search of an equalizer but never really threatened, meaning Ecuador go into the final match with group favourites France with a realistic chance of progressing.

Honduras still have a mathematical chance of making it to the knockout stages despite losing both matches to date but need to beat the Swiss and hope France enjoy a comfortable win over Ecuador.