Quito, Ecuador June 15, 2006
Jason Halberstadt

Ecuador dominated the Ticos in every aspect of the game as Ecuador qualified for the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2006. Ecuador faces host country Germany on June 20th, 8am in Berlin.

The Ecuadorian squad showed definitively that they are a threat to be rekoned with, as they have dominated their competitors in their first two showings in the World Cup. While Germany struggled yesterday narrowly beating Poland 1-0 in a last minute goal, and allowed two goals in their 4-2 match with Costa Rica, Ecuador has shut out both teams, and is leading the Group A with a two goal advantage over Germany.

Today's match with Costa Rica went like clockwork for the Ecuadorians. Mirroring the first match with Poland, Carlos Tenorio overwhelmed the Tico defense to score at seven minutes into the match. In the second half, Augustin Delgado marked the second goal for Ecuador. Team bad boy Ivan Kaviedes finished off the Costa Ricas with a goal in the final minutes.

Heading into the match with Germany, the Ecuadorian squad has nothing to lose. They have qualified for the quarterfinals, and Germany will be pressured by national pride as they show off against the renegade South Americans.

In reality, Ecudor simply qualifying for the 2006 World Cup is a major feat in inself, finishing third place in South America behind global football superpowers Brazil and Argentina. Ecuador was undefeated at home, where the high altitude enhances the home field advantage, and even managed to upset world Champions Brazil in 2005. The team had been criticized intenationally, especially by Brasilian coach, saying that the squad qualified for the World Cup only due to the fact that they play home games at high altitude in Quito.