Ecuador secured their place in the second round of the 2006 World Cup for the first time in history after they crushed Costa Rica 3-0 on Thursday. Carlos Tenorio broke the deadlock early in the first half before Agustin Delgado added the second shortly after re-start. Substitute Ivan Kaviedes sealed the win in stoppage time to guide his side to a memorable achievement. The result means both Ecuador and hosts Germany have secured passage to the round of 16 as they managed to bag a perfect six points from their first two matches, leaving Poland and Costa Rica tailing the group with no points. Costa Rica gave up easily despite the resilient form they showed against Germany in the first game. Unmarked Tenorio opened the score after just eight minutes when he met Antonio Valencia's pinpoint cross with a close-range header into the back of the net.
Delgado extended Ecuador's lead nine minutes after the interval after a brilliant exchange with Edison Mendez inside the area saw him chest the ball and blast a powerful drive past Costa Rica's keeper. Kaviedes almost added the third in the 69th minute after he directed Mendez's shot into the net but it was ruled out for offside. Three minutes from time, Alvaro Saborio made an attempt to score the consolation as he curled a right-footed drive that hit the bar. In the additional time, Mendez raced down the right flank and provided a neat cross to Kaviedes who volleyed the ball home at the far post. Ecuador next take on Germany in their final Group A game on Wednesday to determine the group leader.
