Ecuador Cruises Past Haiti, Peru Advances on Controversial Goal

Group B did not fail to disappoint on Sunday's prime-time games as we saw Haiti be routed once again and Brazil in a game decided by one controversial call.
               The first game was Ecuador-Haiti. Ecuador needed a win to move on as the Group B runner-up, while Haiti had nothing to play for. Ecuador got off to the right start in the 11th minute when Enner Valencia put the ahead with a nice, low strike past Johnny Placide, Haiti's keeper. Placide would get beat 9 minutes later when Valencia was up against him, before Valencia dished it to Jaime Ayovi to tap in. Jerome Mechack had a header late in the game for Haiti, but it went off the crossbar and soon enough Ecuador's lead got bigger. In the 57th, Christian Noboa chested Jefferson Montero's cross before hitting the middle of the net. Ecuador would finish the scoring in the 78th when Valencia passed it a wide open Antonio Valencia, who walked into the net with the ball. Ecuador will face the US Thursday in the quarterfinals.

The goal that put Brazil out and Peru, champs.

                With Ecuador in, both teams knew that only one would make it past, and also win the group. Brazil started out of the gate strong with Peru's keeper Pedro Gallese stopping Filipe Luis' chance early before Gabriel's turn around shot was blocked by Gallese in the 26th. Three minutes earlier, Brazil claimed for a penalty when Christian Ramos ran into Lucas Lima. Then, Peru claimed for a penalty when Edison Flores went down from Renato Augusto. Gabriel had another chance with a powerful strike in the 41st, but Gallese deflected it away. In the last half, Philippe Coutinho had an attempt well saved by Gallese before the controversial call minutes later. In the 75th, Andy Polo went down the right side before crossing for Raul Ruidiaz, who clearly used his hand to put the ball in the net. After the goal, the assistant ref talked for two minutes with the official before allowing the goal. Even with 6 minutes of injury time, Brazil failed with any chances and lost the game, making Peru Group B champs and Brazil eliminated.