A clockwork dove
Ecuador played against Peru, in Lima. It was just a “friendly” match. But Ecuador and Peru are rivals, and Ecuador had been playing dismally for many months, and the Peruvians were agrandados. (There’d been some nonsense in the press about “la paloma mecánica,” i.e., the Clockwork Dove).
The Ecuadorians committed their usual number of defensive errors. Fortunately, the line judges were sharp, and they made several close, correct offsides calls that kept Peru off the scoreboard. Then, in the second half, Énner Valencia shredded the Peruvian defense, helping Ecuador to convert two goals.
These were the highlights.
It was Ecuador’s first victory in two years against South American opposition.
The Ecuadorians committed their usual number of defensive errors. Fortunately, the line judges were sharp, and they made several close, correct offsides calls that kept Peru off the scoreboard. Then, in the second half, Énner Valencia shredded the Peruvian defense, helping Ecuador to convert two goals.
These were the highlights.
It was Ecuador’s first victory in two years against South American opposition.