Just over five years after their latest military confrontation, Ecuador and Peru squared off in Quito's Atahualpa Stadium in a game dubbed The Pride Match by media in both countries. It was apparent on the field that there has been no love lost between the two nations since Peruvian troops invaded Ecuador in 1941, though the hype seemed to inspire the Ecuadorian National Team more than arch rival Peru. The team played with obvious vigor and claimed its second home victory of the 2002 World Cup qualifiers.

Lead by Cleber Chalá, Ecuador dominated the first half of play. An orderly defense and mastery of the midfield kept the ball in front of Peru's net for most of the first 45 minutes. However, despite half a dozen quality scoring chances only Chalá and Eduardo Hurtado found the mesh. Chalá scored in the 14th minute with a shoulder-high shot on a ball fed by Hurtado. Five minutes into the second half Hurtado added a goal to his assist and ended his teams scoring by taking advantage of a bouncing free kick inside of the Peruvian eighteen.

Ecuador was in the midst of routing its listless neighbor when coach Hernan Dario Gomez yanked team captain Alex Aguinaga and fiery forward Hurtado in the 70th minute. Peru took advantage of the ill-timed substitutions and sent a barrage of shots against Ecuadorian keeper Jose Cevallos. Peru's comeback began when Juan Pajuelo headed Nolberto Solano's free kick past Cevallos. In the final minutes Peru hit the cross bar and missed two other opportunities to tie. Ecuador hung on to win the game and bragging rights, at least until the two teams meet again in the much anticipated rematch in Lima.