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Copa America 2016, Ecuador 2-2 Peru

This was South American fútbol at its best...or something.

Carlos Gruezo and Ecuador came back to tie Peru 2-2 in a wild Group B affair
Carlos Gruezo and Ecuador came back to tie Peru 2-2 in a wild Group B affair
Michael Rincon

The Copa America Group B match between Ecuador and Peru had plenty of highlights and a few, well, lowlights. In the end, Ecuador will have to be happy with having erased a 2-0 first-half deficit to share the spoils with one match remaining in the group stage.

A few reactions:

Peru's Christian Cueva scored one of the goals of the tournament. He displayed a remarkable first touch to receive and turn with the ball before nutmegging his defender and ripping the game's first tally.

Enner Valencia of Ecuador took some time to make his presence known, but did so with authority. The aggressive forward from West Ham scored Ecuador's first, about 6 minutes before the half, getting his squad back in the game and the tournament. He was a thorn in the side of Peru throughout the second half, and save for some excellent emergency defending might have doubled his tally and stolen this match for La Tricolor.

Enner Valencia Michael Rincon

Enner Valencia

Despite going in opposite directions in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying (Peru is 1-1-4 and Ecuador is 4-1-1), the match looked to be a lopsided affair for Peru from early on. Some wild and ambitious moments in the first four minutes culminated in Cueva's opening goal, and it was all Peru from there until Valencia found his stride.

The second half was contested more evenly, but fouls and testy moments in the box came aplenty.

Ecuador's Gabriel Achilier was sent off with a second yellow in second half stoppage time for...well it was bad.

Peru now moves into second place in Group B, a country mile behind Brazil who now has a +6 goal differential but sits likewise on 4 points. Ecuador comes in behind with 2 points, and a date with Haiti waiting.