Ecuador proved the critics over them had been all wrong as they made a fine start to World Cup against Group A rivals Poland, winning 2-0 in Gelsenkirchen on Friday.

 

"Ecuador have always been criticized to earn all our victories by playing at a very high altitude," said coach Luis Suarez, who was happy but stayed cool with the surprising win taken in front of boisterous supporters for Poland.

 

 

"This was a great result. But this is just a step. The mountain is great. This is the first step in World Cup," he added.

 

The Latin Americans, who fell 2-0 behind to Italy inside the first 20 minutes on their World Cup debut in 2002, looked far assured kicking off their campaign in Germany and made the breakthrough first after a sluggish start with little goalmouth actions from both sides.

 

Forward Carlos Tenorio came out the burst-out hero as he latches on in front of the goal and sent a header into the net beyond Poland's keeper Artur Boruc on the 24th minute, after his attacking partner Agustin Delgado flicked a long throw from winger Ulises De La Cruz from the right line.

 

Delgado scored his own later in the second half to make it two for the Ecuadorians, tipping in an inside-box cross from substitute Ivan Kaviedes in 80 minutes.

 

Ecuador should have improved their scoreboard earlier, when Tenorio drove a great run in the first half to set up Delgado, who blazed over from point-blank range in 29 minutes.

 

Delgado, who was named Man of the Match with his extraordinary performance of scoring the second goal and setting up the first for Tenorio, echoed his manager that the team must keep their feet on the ground.

 

"We can celebrate a victory but we must concentrate also on the next Group A match," he said. Ecuador is to play Costa Rica on Thursday at a second round match of Group A, which also features hosts Germany.

 

Poland, who had the bulk of possession before the break, continued to do little to get an equalizer in the second half, showing nothing of their toughness and resolutions and even slowing down on paces with 15 mintues to go.

 

Coach Pawel Janas replaced the exhausted Maciej Zurawski with Pawel Brozek at 83, hoping to inject some fresh forces in their attack, but the young striker did not come up to any chance for the Poles in his short showup.

 

Poland's Ebi Smolarek and Ecuador captain Ivan Hurtado were booked for a pair of challenges, while Hurtado was forced to exit from the pitch after being tackled from back by Polish midfielder Ebi Smolarek at 64 and carried off the pitch on a stretcher.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2006)