Quito, Mar 25 (IANS): Ecuador drew 2-2 with Paraguayan football team at home in their fifth match of the World Cup 2018 Russia South American qualifiers here.
Thursday's match was intense and quite balanced with both sides pressurising and seeking a goal. The Paraguayans surprised many by managing to keep up their attacking despite Quito's high altitude (2,850 metres above sea-level), reports Xinhua.
Ecuador's scorers were forward Enner Valencia, of West Ham United, in the 19th minute and winger Angel Mena in the 91st minute. Forward Dario Lezcano, who plays for Bundesliga club FC Ingolstadt, scored two goals for Paraguay in the 37th and 58th minutes.
With this result, Ecuador stay atop the qualifying standings with 13 points.
In the sixth round of the qualifiers Ecuador will visit Colombia in Barranquilla on Tuesday and Paraguay will receive Brazil in Asuncion the same day.