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World Cup qualifying: Delgado double moves Ecuador closer to World Cup [Mon Sep 5th, 2005]
La Paz (Reuters) - Agustin Delgado scored twice to give Ecuador a 2-1 win away to Bolivia and put them on the brink of a second successive World Cup appearance.
Ecuador, who are third in the 10-nation South American qualifying group, have 26 points from 16 games. The top four qualify directly for Germany next year and the fifth play off against the Oceania region winners for another place.
Delgado, who took his tally in the competition to five goals, opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a long-range shot which took a deflection off a defender and flew past goalkeeper Carlos Arias.
Ecuador, who had never played at the World Cup before 2002, dominated the first half, apparently unbothered by the effects of playing at 3,600 metres above sea level.
Bolivia levelled against the run of play four minutes before half-time when defender Doyle Vaca took advantage of slack marking at a corner to score from close range.
Delgado put the visitors back in front in the 50th minute when he met Edison Mendez's cross from the right with a majestic header.
Bolivia should have equalised in the 82nd minute when Joaquin Botero broke clear of the Ecuador defence but his shot struck the post.
Ecuador goalkeeper Cristian Mora, playing his first competitive international, made two excellent saves as Bolivia pressed for a late equaliser.
Delgado was close to a hat-trick in the last minute when he hit the post as Ecuador claimed their first away win of the competition.
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