Seventeen-year-old Kendry Páez scored just before halftime, Alan Minda added another goal late in the second half, and Ecuador defeated winless Jamaica 3-1 in the Copa America on Wednesday night.
Ecuador, bouncing back from a 2-1 loss to Venezuela, secured their first Copa America victory since a 4-0 win over Haiti in 2016, ending an eight-game winless streak.
Jamaica was eliminated from the tournament, the first team to exit the 16-nation competition, after Venezuela defeated Mexico 1-0 later on Wednesday.
An own goal by Kasey Palmer in the 13th minute gave Ecuador the lead, and Páez extended it to 2-0 with a penalty kick in stoppage time of the first half. Michail Antonio scored Jamaica’s first Copa America goal in the 54th minute, and Minda sealed the victory with a goal in the first minute of stoppage time in the second half.
Venezuela has six points and secured a spot in the quarterfinals, while Mexico and Ecuador have three points each. Ecuador will face Mexico in their final Group B match in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, while Jamaica will play against Venezuela.
Jamaica has now lost all eight matches across three Copa America tournaments, being outscored 12-1.
Ecuador took the lead when Piero Hincapié’s cross from near the corner flag deflected off defender Kasey Palmer and over goalkeeper Jahmali Waite, who was moving backward.
Páez, the youngest player in the tournament at 17 years and 1 1/2 months, scored his second international goal after a handball by Jamaica’s Greg Leigh was confirmed by a video review.
Antonio scored Jamaica’s goal after Palmer’s corner kick reached Ethan Pinnock. His shot deflected off defender William Pacho and Hincapié before Antonio volleyed it into the net off goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez’s right post.
