Universidad Católica and Liga de Quito drew 2-2 on Thursday night in the first leg of their Copa Ecuador semifinal, with three of the four goals coming after the 75th minute and two of them in stoppage time. Independiente del Valle, meanwhile, took a 3-0 lead over Delfín in the other semi on Wednesday in Manta.
A wild finish at the Banco Guayaquil
Católica, the defending champions, went ahead in the 14th minute when Panamanian striker José Fajardo finished off a one-two with Emiliano Clavijo on the counter. Liga thought they had equalized midway through the first half when Janner Corozo headed in a Marcelo Weigandt cross, but VAR ruled it out for a foul by Michael Estrada earlier in the move.
Liga pushed higher after the break and the equalizer came in the late 70s: Estrada brought down a high ball and Weigandt arrived unmarked to make it 1-1. Reports put the minute anywhere from 76 to 79. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Lucas Rodríguez fired in what looked like the winner for Liga. Then Ricardo Adé gave away a penalty and Azarías Londoño converted in the final minute of added time to make it 2-2.
The draw came with Liga’s Gustavo Álvarez under pressure. Liga fans turned on the players on social media while they were behind, and the result keeps the tie open for the return leg in Quito.
IDV in control against Delfín
At the Estadio Jocay on Wednesday, Paraguayan midfielder Hugo Quintana scored twice for IDV, in the first half and just after the restart, and Carlos González headed in the third around the hour mark. Delfín need to win by four in Sangolquí to go through, while a three-goal win would send the tie to penalties.
| Semifinal | First leg | Second leg (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| U. Católica vs Liga de Quito | U. Católica 2-2 Liga de Quito | Wed Nov 4, 7:00 PM, Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, Quito |
| Delfín vs Independiente del Valle | Delfín 0-3 IDV | Thu Nov 5, 7:00 PM, Estadio Banco Guayaquil, Sangolquí |
What’s at stake
The final is a single game in Cuenca, and the winner takes Ecuador’s fourth Copa Libertadores 2027 spot. Sources: Primicias, Vistazo, EFE via ABC Color, Ecuagol and El Universo.
Every upcoming Ecuador game is on our schedule page.
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