By J.J. Pavlick | Harrison, NJ | May 30, 2026 |
HARRISON, N.J. — Ecuador leaned on two milestone goals — including a breakthrough header from defender Jackson Porozo — to defeat Saudi Arabia 2–1 on Monday night in an international friendly at Sports Illustrated Stadium, a performance head coach Sebastián Beccacece said showed “a group committed and willing to take risks” as the World Cup approaches.
Porozo’s Breakthrough Opens the Scoring
Ecuador struck first in the 34th minute when Porozo rose above the Saudi back line and headed home a long free kick from John Yeboah, who delivered a bending ball from roughly 35 yards out. The finish marked Porozo’s first senior international goal in his ninth call-up, and it sent the pro-Ecuador crowd into a full-stadium eruption.
Beccacece said the goal represented more than just a lead—it was a turning point.
“We converted on a set piece — something we hadn’t done — and from that moment the team was clearly superior,” he said. “It was a response to the discomfort of the early minutes.”
Alongside Porozo, center‑back Félix Torres anchored a back line that settled after a shaky opening spell. Torres said the partnership clicked quickly.
“Very happy for the match and the victory,” Torres said. “Jackson and I felt very comfortable. Today was the first step in preparing for the World Cup.”
Saudi Arabia nearly equalized in the 39th minute when Salem Al‑Dawsari found space 19 yards out, but his shot sailed over the bar. Ecuador threatened again before halftime through Jordy Caicedo, whose long-range effort was saved. Four minutes of stoppage time were added, and Ecuador entered the break up 1–0.
Valencia Doubles the Lead Early in Second Half
Both sides made sweeping halftime changes—two for Saudi Arabia and three for Ecuador—but the momentum stayed with La Tri.
In the 51st minute, Ecuador doubled its lead through Anthony Valencia, who scored his first senior international goal in just his third cap. Yeboah slipped a pass into the center of the box, and Valencia curled a left‑footed shot into the bottom‑right corner for a 2–0 advantage.
Beccacece said Valencia’s performance validated the staff’s trust in him.
“Anthony played in positions he’s not always used to and performed at a very high level,” he said. “That consolidates what we’re imagining for him.”
Saudi Arabia Rallies Late Through Mandash
Saudi Arabia grew into the match after the hour mark and pulled one back in the 87th minute when Sultan Mandash fired a left‑footed shot from a tight angle into the top‑left corner. The visitors pressed through six minutes of stoppage time, but Ecuador held firm.
Goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez, who watched from the bench, said the team’s structure never wavered.
“The match was controlled in the great majority of minutes,” he said. “It was a very important test for many players, and they handled it very well.”
Torres: A Second World Cup and a Team Built on Unity
Torres, preparing for his second World Cup, said the group’s internal chemistry is Ecuador’s greatest strength—something he believes will matter more than tactics or formations once the tournament begins.
“The strength of this team is the group—the family we’ve formed,” he said. “We’re very united, and that’s what we value most.”
He added that the belief inside the locker room is real, not rhetorical.
“We think big,” Torres said. “We believe we can go far, and we all have to get on that line of confidence.”
Torres also praised fellow defenders Piero Hincapié and William Pacho, who faced each other in the Champions League final earlier in the day.
“Very happy for something historic,” he said. “They’re both incredibly valuable for us and for Ecuador.”
Galíndez: ‘We’re 26 players fighting for 19 million people’
Galíndez, 39, spoke with the perspective of a veteran who has lived multiple cycles with Ecuador. He said the team’s ambition is grounded in realism, not hype.
“We base ourselves in reality — nobody is promising something impossible,” he said. “But we’ve shown we’re a very difficult rival for anyone.”
He also described the responsibility the squad feels toward the country.
“We’re 26 players fighting for 19 million people,” he said. “There’s nothing more important than giving Ecuador a great joy.”
Galíndez said the goalkeeper group—often a position defined by competition—is unified.
“In the national team, there can’t be envy or ego,” he said. “We all protect the Ecuador goal together.”
And despite his age, he said he feels better than ever.
“My son told me, ‘Dad, you’re in your prime,’” Galíndez said. “At 39, mentally and physically, I feel in the best moment of my career.”
A Night for Ecuador’s Youth Movement
Beccacece highlighted the contributions of Ecuador’s younger players, many of whom are fighting for their first World Cup roster.
“We’ve debuted many young footballers in this process,” he said. “These experiences are part of planting the future. They showed they are valiant.”
He also praised the atmosphere inside Sports Illustrated Stadium.
“The environment was beautiful—wave after wave of people singing and supporting,” he said. “That energy lifts us.”
Match Context and What’s Next
Ecuador generated 11 shots, including six on target, and produced 19 touches inside the Saudi penalty area. Saudi Arabia held 58 percent possession but managed only two shots on goal.
The victory extends Ecuador’s steady run of form, following recent draws against the Netherlands, Morocco, and Canada, and a win over New Zealand. They next face Guatemala on Sunday as preparations continue toward the World Cup.
Final: Ecuador 2, Saudi Arabia 1
Ecuador left Harrison with more than a win—they left with clarity, conviction, and a locker room speaking the same language as the World Cup approaches. If nights like this are any indication, La Tri’s ceiling is still rising.
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