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Val-iant effort

Ecuador 2 Peru 2: Enner Valencia sparks comeback to keep La Tricolor in qualification hunt

West Ham ace netted six minutes before half-time as his side salvaged a draw after Las Incas had taken a two goal lead

Enner Valencia's equaliser six minutes before half-time kept Ecuador in the hunt for qualification from the Copa America Centenario group phase.

La Tricolor were staring elimination in the face when Peru raced to a two-goal inside 13 minutes.

However, Ecuador stormed back with goals either side of the break.

Enner Valencia halved arrears with his goal for Ecuador six minutes before half-time
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Enner Valencia halves arrears with his goal six minutes before half-time breakCredit: Getty Images
Edison Flores after his goal saw Peru race to a sensational two-goal lead
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Edison Flores after his goal saw Peru race to a sensational two-goal leadCredit: Getty Images

Chrisitan Cueva opened the scoring in Arizona with a neatly taken finish on five minutes.

And the rampant Peruvians doubled their lead eight minutes later as Edison Flores profited from some shambolic Ecuador defending squeeze a low shot into the bottom corner.

La Tricolor looked shell-shocked and appeared to be on the brink of elimination until West Ham's Valencia popped up on 39 minutes.

Peru's supporters cheer their team on at the Copa America Centenario
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Peru's supporters cheer their team on at the Copa America CentenarioCredit: Getty Images
A colourful Ecuador fan at the Copa America Centenario match against Peru
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A colourful Ecuador fan at the Copa America Centenario match against PeruCredit: Getty Images

Namesake and Manchester United star, Antonio, clipped a ball over the Peru defence for Enner to chest down and power home.

The goal breathed new life into Ecuador and they came out in the second half determined to get back in the game.

And equaliser came on 48 minutes as Swansea star Jefferson Montero found Miller Bolanos to fire home from inside the six-yard area.

Fans of Peru cheer their team during the Copa America Centenario match
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Fans of Peru cheer their team during the Copa America Centenario matchCredit: Getty Images
Christian Cueva celebrates scoring Peru's opener in their 2-2 draw with Ecuador
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Christian Cueva celebrates scoring Peru's opener in their 2-2 draw with EcuadorCredit: Getty Images

Neither side were able to find a winner, though Peru came agonisingly close in stoppage time.

Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan showed some superb decision making as he played an excellent advantage following a horrendous challenge from Ecuador's Garbiel Achilier, who had already been booked.

Peru were mid-break and almost found the winner — but Raul Ruidiaz hit it wide.

Players from both sides embrace after Peru and Ecuador drew 2-2 in Arizona
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Players from both sides embrace after Peru and Ecuador drew 2-2 in ArizonaCredit: Getty Images

Roldan subsequently brought play back and sent Achilier off.

The result means Peru are joint-first on four points but with Brazil to play in their final game.

While Ecuador's back-to-back draws sees them on two points and with a more favourable-looking last group match against Haiti.

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