Ecuador are currently leading Chile 2-1 at half-time in their Copa América Group B match in Puerto Ordaz on Wednesday. Goals from Wigan striker Antonio Valencia and Christian Rogelio Benítez for Ecuador and Humberto Suazo scoring for Chile.

The game started at a slow pace, but it was Ecuador who managed to get into their rhythm the fastest, pushing the inexperienced Chileans further back as the half-progressed.

Chilean defender Jorge Francisco Vargas controversially gave a free-kick away in the 11th minute, after a minor brush with Christian Rogelio Benítez. Mendez took the free-kick, which hit striker Carlos Tenorio on the shin and almost trickled past the Chilean keeper Bravo and into the goal.

Antonio Valencia scored the opener for Ecuador in the 16th minute. Edison Méndez made a precision pass across field to Valencia, who ran 30-yards before finishing with a wonderful chip over Bravo in the Chile goal to make it 1-0.

The lead didn’t last long, as Chile equalised within five minutes of the opener. Humberto Suazo picked-up the ball outside the Ecuador penalty area and, despite pressure from the Ecuador defence, managed to smash his shot home into the top-right corner from 20-yards past the helpless Christian Mora.

Despite having conceded a goal so soon after taking the lead, Ecuador managed to regain the lead in the 23rd minute with Christian Rogelio Benítez belting home a second just minutes later.

The half finished 2-1 to Ecuador in a highly entertaining Copa América encounter.

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