Many expected a drab affair in the first Group A match of the evening, but both sides did themselves justice in the final third to ensure those expectations were not met.
Bolivia started the game on top as Martin Smedberg-Dalence’s free kick was turned round for a corner by Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez, but the proceeding corner came to nothing.
Bolivia’s strong start turned into a superb one as another corner was won, this time Smedberg-Dalence’s delivery was met by an unmarked Ronald Raldés who powered his header into the corner of Domínguez’s goal.
Ecuador failed to put their stamp on the game early on and were punished again after 17 minutes.
Walter Ayoví gifted the ball to Bolivia’s Marcelo Martins Moreno, who touched the ball off to Smedberg-Dalence as the Swedish-born midfielder turned from goal provider to goalscorer, lashing a 30 yard strike into the corner of the net.
Ecuador began to stack on pressure on the half hour mark, unfortunately for them 22-year-old goalkeeper Romel Quiñónez was in fantastic form, denying them on a number of occasions midway through the first half.
They continued to threaten Bolivia and after 36 minutes the referee signaled for a penalty kick when Edward Zentano hauled Enner Valencia to the ground in the box.
Valencia then scored the initial kick, but the referee pulled it back to be retaken because Miller Bolaños encroached. At the second time of asking Valencia’s penalty was stopped by Quiñónez – who continued his brilliant performance.
Just seconds later Ecuador themselves conceded a penalty. Frickson Erazo scissor-kicked Damián Lizio in the face, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot.
Martins stepped up to the plate, hammering the ball past Domínguez, whose right hand was not enough to keep the penalty out. That ended the first half in terms of goalscoring opportunities, with Bolivia going in at the break holding a shock three goal lead.
Three minutes into the second half Martins kicked the ball straight to opposing forward Jefferson Montero, who picked out Enner Valencia free in the box to slot home into the empty net, making up for his earlier penalty miss and dragging Ecuador back into the contest.
Valencia’s goal increased his confidence as he upped the tempo around the hour mark, but there was nobody in the middle to meet his ball across goal. Soon after, substitute Renato Ibarra was released into space but Quiñónez was again up to the task in the Bolivian goal.
With nine minutes to go Bolaños hit an absolute bullet into the top corner from 35 yards, leaving Quiñónez completely helpless. Moments after that Christian Noboa tried to match Bolaños with another glorious strike, but could only find the crossbar on this occasion.
Bolivia piled men behind the ball trying to see the point home, Quiñónez faced another strike from distance but pushed away heroically for a corner.
Ecuador were unable to get the necessary equaliser and are set to crash out of Copa America 2015 in dismal fashion. In stark contrast, Bolivia now have four points in Group A and qualification will be in their hands as they face hosts Chile on the final match-day.
Ecuador: Domínguez; Paredes (Angulo 85), Achilier, Erazo, Ayoví; Martínez (Ibarra 46), Noboa, P Quiñónez (Cazares 46), Jefferson; Bolaños, Valencia
Bolivia: R Quiñónez; Hurtado, Raldés, Zenteno, Morales; Chumacero, Bejarano; Pedriel (Coibra 57), Smedberg-Dalence, Lizio (Bejarano 71); Martins (Miranda 88)
Booked: Zenteno, P Quiñonez, Erazo, Hurtado, R Quiñónez
Goalscorers: Raldés, Smedberg-Dalence, Martins, Valencia, Bolaños
Man of the Match: Romel Quiñónez. The Bolívar goalkeeper was super throughout. Unable to do anything for the two goals, Quiñónez made a series of stops during the game, totalling 7 saves and 3 claims in total. Keep an eye on his situation in case of a transfer out of Bolivia for the young shot-stopper.