Ecuador boosted their World Cup hopes with a 1-0 win over Chile in a fiery encounter which saw three men sent off.
Wigan ace dismissed for Ecuador
Ecuador boosted their World Cup qualifying hopes with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Chile in a fiery encounter which saw three men sent off.
Christian Benitez scored the only goal of the game on 71 minutes to lift Ecuador up to sixth spot in the table.
Chile were facing an uphill battle from the 20th minute when defender Ismael Fuentes was sent off for a late tackle on Joffre Guerron.
Ecuador dominated from there on and Wigan midfielder Antonio Valencia saw his long-range shot come back off the crossbar near the end of the first half.
The home side finally made the breakthrough 19 minutes from time when Benitez headed home after Chile goalkeeper Claudio Bravo misjudged the ball from a corner.
Five minutes later Valencia was sent off for Ecuador for a dangerous studs-up challenge.
Chile were reduced to nine men seven minutes from time when Gonzalo Jara was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
Ecuador comfortably held on for the win with Bravo making up for his mistake for the goal with a superb save to deny Benitez late on.
