With a double goal by Yaimar Medina and a goal by Cristhoper Zambrano, Ecuador beat Colombia 3-0 this Saturday in the match of Group A that opened the South American U-23 pre-Olympic tournament that will be played in Venezuela until February 11 and will deliver two places to the Games in Paris in 2024.

At the Brígido Iriarte Stadium in Caracas, Ecuador’s big victory came through Yaimar Medina (71 and 89) and Cristhoper Zambrano (86).

Unforgettable debut! Ecuador defeated Colombia 3-0 in the U-23 Olympic qualifier in Venezuela

Ecuador remain top of Group A with three points, although the first leg continues with Venezuela and Bolivia playing later on the same stage.

The first caution of the match was given by Colombia when, in the 11th minute, Carlos Cortés entered the attack zone from left to right and passed the ball to Carlos Andrés Gómez, who finished the ball past the Ecuadorian goalkeeper Alexis Villa.

However, the Ecuadorian Justin Cuero showed his team’s cards in the 23rd minute by using a counterattack, after a loose ball from the opposing midfield, although he was unsuccessful in the end.

A minute later, Colombia were down to ten men due to the dismissal of defender Jimer Fory, who received a second yellow card for a foul on Carlos Sánchez.

Due to Fory’s sending off, the victim player was Colombian number nine Carlos Cortés who made way for Samuel Velásquez. And that’s where the depth Colombia had shown up to that point changed.

The game began to be dominated by a much more confident Ecuador and in the 38th they went back on the attack with Pedro Vite with a shot that goalkeeper Sebastián Guerra was able to control.

La Tri returned in the second half with the same offensive desire with which they went into halftime against Colombia, who looked confused, without clear ideas and unable to decipher their opponent.

From the 57th minute, Vite, the mastermind behind La Tri and who plays for Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS, led his team in a series of attacks against a stingy Colombian defense.

In the 65th, midfielder Carlos Andrés Gómez, of Real Salt Lake of the MLS, responded by dribbling past several opposing defenders, leaving them in the way and receiving a right-hander to signal that Colombia were still in the game.

But Ecuador was not satisfied with the draw. And he showed it from the 70th minute when he scored the first goal with Yaimar Medina, the Independiente del Valle midfielder, receiving a change from Vite to finish and beat goalkeeper Guerra.

The second came in the 86th through Cristhoper Zambrano, the Aucas forward, who entered the game five minutes before and took advantage of Vite’s assist, and the third was another genius from Medina who scored his double goal with a ‘balloon’ in the 89th. in 89. ‘on the war.

Ecuador could have increased the score with Medina’s ball on the crossbar and John Mercado’s penalty which Guerra saved in the 93rd minute and with which the Colombian nightmare ended as the referee ended the game.

The pre-Olympic tournament, which is being held on Venezuelan soil for the first time, will determine the regional champion, a title held by Argentina, and the runner-up, the place occupied in the last edition by Brazil, who went on to win gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Apart from Caracas, the cities of Barquisimeto and Valencia also host the tournament.

Brazil, the first winners of the tournament with seven titles, are in Group A and rested on the first day. Argentina, who follow with five trophies under their belt, are in Zone B along with Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Peru.

The action of Group B begins this Sunday with the matches Peru-Chile and Argentina-Paraguay, which will be played at the Misael Delgado Stadium in Valencia. Uruguay will rest. (D)