GUAYAQUIL, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) — Fenerbahce forward Enner Valencia netted a first-half brace as Ecuador routed Bolivia 3-0 in their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier here on Thursday.
Michael Estrada opened the scoring on the quarter-hour mark by heading home following a Byron Castillos cross.
Valencia doubled the lead with a cool finish into the bottom-right corner after Moises Caicedo’s through-ball.
The former West Ham and Everton player again hit the target two minutes later when he combined with Estrada to fire in from close range.
The result leaves Ecuador third in the 10-team South American zone standings with 16 points from 10 matches. Bolivia are ninth with six points.
In other South American World World Cup qualifiers on Thursday, Paraguay held Argentina to a goalless draw in Asuncion, Uruguay and Colombia drew 0-0 in Montevideo and Brazil beat Venezuela 3-1 in Caracas.
