Ecuador defeats Costa Rica 2-0 to secure first victory under Marcelo Gallardo

Ecuador defeated Costa Rica 2-0 in an international friendly match held at the Estadio Olímpico de Atahualpa in Quito on November 13, 2026. This result represents the first victory for the Ecuador national team under manager Marcelo Gallardo. The match took place in front of approximately 35,000 spectators who watched the home side secure the win.

Goal scoring and match highlights

Jordy Caicedo opened the scoring for Ecuador in the 22nd minute. The goal followed a long pass from Piero Hincapié. This performance marked the first time Jordy Caicedo has scored at the Atahualpa stadium in 9 years. Ecuador extended their lead in the 83rd minute when Moisés Caicedo converted a penalty kick. The penalty was awarded after Juan Pablo Vargas fouled John Yeboah. While some reports suggested the foul occurred in the 80th or 81st minute, the official match timing recorded the penalty in the 83rd minute.

Costa Rica struggled to maintain momentum throughout the contest. The match became difficult for the visiting side, according to Costa Rica manager Bryan Ruiz. The difficulty increased in the 68th minute when Diego Mesén was sent off. The red card left Costa Rica with only ten players for the final 20 minutes of the match.

Performance and team development

Manager Marcelo Gallardo expressed satisfaction with the team's progress following the victory. Marcelo Gallardo said the team improved throughout the match and the performance was good for construction. He noted that the result was a good start to reunite with the Ecuadorian public and give them this first victory. The manager also stated that if there is good functioning, the goals will come.

This victory ends a period of mixed results for the Ecuador national team. Before this match, Ecuador lost to South Korea and drew with Japan and Panama during an Asian tour in September and October 2026. The win also marks the first victory for the squad since June 25, 2025, when Ecuador defeated Germany. One player, Juan Riquelme Angulo, was absent from the match due to discomfort.

Upcoming international fixtures

The Ecuador national team will continue its schedule with a match against Bolivia. This upcoming fixture is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at the Estadio Monumental in Guayaquil. Meanwhile, Costa Rica is scheduled to play Argentina on November 17, 2026.

Glossary

• Estadio Monumental — The Estadio Monumental is a stadium. It is the home stadium of the River Plate football club.