In Quito, the Ecuador national team remained undefeated against Chile in seven consecutive qualifying matches. Since the World Cup started in France in 1998, the Tricolori have built a local hegemony over the Reds, the team that will host this Tuesday the sixth date of the qualifying tournament for the 2026 World Cup. Historically, the Chileans have always been a complicated opponent that has made the existence of the national team miserable several times . They seemed invincible, until a reversal occurred at the end of the 20th century.

There are three official commitments with which Ecuador began to write new and instructive chapters regarding the duel against the Chilean team. Each took place in three different Andean cities and was held within two competitions.

These are the three matches between Ecuador and Chile that will forever have a prominent place in history. Each represented a first for Tri in their field.

Copa America 1997

On June 17 of that year, at the end of the action in Group A of the Copa América in Bolivia, under the leadership of Luis Fernando Suárez (then Francisco Maturana’s assistant), Ecuador beat Chile for the first time in history, after 58 years. confrontations. It was an unforgettable 2-1 that also secured Tricolor first place in its series.

SVEMIR said with euphoria: ‘We pulled out the nail.’ He noted that “the victory has historical nuances because it is the first time that Chile has been defeated in official matches in the senior category. “It is also the first time in history that qualification for the second stage of the Copa América has been achieved playing outside the country.”

Ariel Graziani scored in the 33rd minute, and José Gavica scored in the 55th minute. Ecuador fielded this lineup: Johvani Ibarra; Ulises de la Cruz, Luis Capurro, Alberto Montaño, Edmundo Méndez; Wellington Sánchez, Eduardo Smith, Héctor Carabalí, José Gavica; Ariel Graziani (Agustín Delgado), Eduardo Hurtado (Édison Maldonado).

Qualification for the 2002 World Cup

In thirteen previous games before the World Cup (one of them was an extra game, in Lima) Ecuador had never been able to beat Chile, but chance number twelve was the charm. The first victory in the World Cup, over La Roja, took place on October 8, 2000 at the Atahualpa Olympic Stadium. ‘The greatest goal in history’, read the headline on the cover of EL UNIVERSA, which in the sports section was titled: ‘Goodbye to the curse’.

The Chileans went down 1-0, with Agustin Delgado’s goal in the 76th minute against Nelson Tapia, who settled in the capital over the years after serving as goalkeeper coach and interim coach of Barcelona SC. However, the figure of obligation was Ángel Fernández, for this newspaper because, among other things, in addition to throwing him off balance, “he was the architect of Ecuador’s only goal, allowing Tino Delgado to strike a beautiful shot in the center”.

This is how Three Hernán Daría Gómez was born: José Cevallos; Ulises de la Cruz, Geovanny Espinoza, Uván Hurtado, Raúl Guerrón; Cléber Chalá, Edwin Tenorio (Ángel Fernández), Alfonso Obregón, Álex Aguinaga, Jaime Iván Kaviedes (Ebelio Ordóñez), Agustín delegate.

Qualification for the 2022 World Cup

On November 16, 2021, with good football and notable goals, the Ecuador national team led by Gustavo Alfaro beat Chile 2:0. It was a special result because it was the first national away win.

EL UNIVERSO pointed out that “Ecuador’s victory was achieved with the goals of winger Pervis Estupiñán in the 8th minute and midfielder Moisés Caicedo in the 90+2 in a game in which Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal was sent off (14) and left a minute later. due to injuries to Eugenio Mena and Alexis Sánchez. Chile lived through one of those nightmares. “Ecuador, in addition to achieving a great victory at the World Cup, wins for the first time on Chilean soil in the qualifiers.”

This is how EL UNIVERSO reflected, in 1997, Ecuador’s first official victory over Chile. At the Copa América it was 2-1.

Ecuador joined Alexander Domínguez; Byron Castillo, Félix Torres, Piero Hincapié, Pervis Estupiñán; Moisés Caicedo (Robert Arboleda), Carlos Gruezo, Jeremy Sarmiento (Gonzalo Plata), Alan Franco (Jhegson Méndez); Michael Estrada (Bryan Angulo), Ángel Mena (Ayrton Preciado). (D)