Ecuador beat Colombia 1 – 0 in Quito Sunday, leaving the Cafeteros with only seven points out of five matches and increasingly slim chances to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Striker Cristian Benitez headed the only goal nine minutes after halftime leaving Colombia coach Jose Pekerman with plenty of work to do to lift his team from sixth place in the next two rounds in September.
Ecuador defender Cristian Noboa was sent off in the 86th minute after receiving a second booking.
“It was a tight match, we need to be more competitive. I think there are still chances to keep looking for a place at the World Cup,” Pekerman told reporters.