Delgado, Tenorio spark Ecuador win

9 June 2006 22:55

Agustin Delgado (R) embraces Ivan Kaviedes after his goal (Action Images)

GELSENKIRCHEN, Jun 9 (SW) - Goals on either side of half-time by Carlos Tenorio and Agustín Delgado saw Ecuador claim their first-ever win over European soil with a 2-0 triumph over Poland in their World Cup Group A opening match.

The action was a bit slow early on and it wasn't until the 11th minute that one of the keepers finally was tested a bit as Ecuador's Segundo Castillo hit a dipping shot from distance, but it was easily gathered by Artur Boruc.

<b>0-1 Carlos Tenorio</b> 24th minute

But then, Ecuador took the advantage after a throw-in as a ball coming into the area was headed toward the far post by captain Agustín Delgado, allowing Carlos Tenorio to tuck the ball home for the opener.

Five minutes later, Ecuador were on the attack again as Carlos Tenorio brought the ball deep into the box before laying it back to Delgado, but the striker ballooned his shot over the bar.

On 31 minutes, Ecuador defender Iván Hurtado earned the first booking of the match after he came in on a foolish challenge against Miroslaw Szymkowiak.

Ecuador continued coming hard as defender Ulises de la Cruz broke right into the area past a lax Poland defense and sent a shot toward goal that Boruc had to push away for a corner kick.

A free kick in the 38th minute by Edison Méndez troubled Boruc as it had a lot of pace and took a quick bounce before he made what looked to be an easy take.

Poland were most definitely the better and most aggressive side in the second half, but Ecuador's defense constantly closed down shooting attempts and several times made well-time challenges to thwart players like Maciej Zurawski and Radoslaw Sobolewski.

A dangerous cross on the hour mark coming in from the left looked as if it was going to trouble Ecuador goalkeeper Cristian Mora, but defender Giovanny Espinoza was on hand to clear it away for a corner.

Poland then made a pure attacking switch as striker Ireneusz Jelen, rumored to be moving to the Bundesliga, replaced the ineffective Sobolewski in the 68th minute as Pawel Janas switched to a 4-4-2.

But on 73 minutes, Boruc had to be on his toes just to keep his side in the game as Méndez hit a sweet half-volley, but the Celtic goalkeeper was alert and knocked it away.

<b>0-2 Agustín Delgado</b> 80th minute

Ecuador then put the match away with ten minutes left when both Iván Kaviedes and Delgado beat the offside trap of Poland, the former sliding the pass across goal unselfishly to Delgado for an easy goal.

Poland finally managed to test Mora with a half-chance with six minutes left as Ebi Smolarek found a shooting lane, but his shot was right at the Ecuador goalkeeper. And then, substitute Ireneusz Jelen fired a shot off the bar.

Then, the post came to haunt Poland again as Jelen's vicious shot again rattled off the woodwork as the influential sub was unlucky again.

The victory put Poland level on points with Germany after their win over Costa Rica, but Germany lead by virtue of scoring more goals. Poland sit bottom of the table.