Ecuador closer to Brazil World Cup

Quito (Ecuador) Oct 12 (IANS) Ecuador’s national soccer team was one step closer to the 2014 Brazil World Cup after defeating Uruguay 1-0 to clinch the forth place in the South American qualifying tournament Friday.

The top four regional teams automatically advance to the World Cup, meaning Ecuador joins Argentina, Colombia and Chile, Xinhua reported.

Jefferson Montero, who plays for Mexico’s Morelia club, scored the one and only goal of the game in minute 29, after catching a pass from Antonio Valencia, who plays for England’s Manchester United.

The victory handed Ecuador enough points, 25 plus five goals, to hold on to its fourth-place ranking regionally. Its final game will be against Chile, in Santiago.

There’s only one scenario that could unseat Ecuador, but it is a highly unlikely one.

If Uruguay wins its away game against Argentina by more than five goals in its last game of the tournament on Oct. 15, and Ecuador loses its game against Chile that same day. Uruguay could steal the fourth-place pass to the World Cup from Ecuador, sending the team to a two-game play-off against Jordan.

Also Friday, Honduras inched closer to Brazil by beating Costa Rica 1-0 in the Central American and Caribbean Confederation (Concacaf) qualifying tournament, with a low goal in the 65th minute by forward Jerry Bengtson.

The US and Costa Rica have already qualified on the previous match day of the tournament.

The top three teams of the Concacaf automatically advance to the World Cup, while the fourth will have to go to play-offs against New Zealand.