Ecuador beats Jamaica 3-1 for first Copa America win since 2016 as Reggae Boyz eliminated
Ecuador players celebrate after an own goal from Jamaica's Kasey Palmer during a Copa America Group B soccer match in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Seventeen-year-old Kendry Páez scored in first-half stoppage time, Alan Minda added another goal late in the second half and Ecuador beat winless Jamaica 3-1 on Wednesday night in the Copa America.
Ecuador, which rebounded from a 2-1 loss to Venezuela, won its first Copa America game since a 4-0 victory over Haiti in 2016, stopping an eight-game winless streak.
Jamaica became the first team eliminated from the 16-nation tournament when Venezuela beat Mexico 1-0 later Wednesday.
Kasey Palmer’s 13th-minute own goal put Ecuador ahead and Páez made it 2-0 with a penalty kick in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time. Michail Antonio scored Jamaica’s first Copa America goal in the 54th, and Minda got the final goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time.
Ecuador players celebrate after an own goal from Jamaica's Kasey Palmer during a Copa America Group B soccer match in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Venezuala has six points and clinched a quarterfinal berth, while Mexico and Ecuador have three points each. Ecuador closes the Group B against Mexico at Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, when Jamaica faces Venezuela.
Jamaica is 0-8 over three Copas, getting outscored 12-1.
Ecuador went ahead when Piero Hincapié centered the ball from near the corner flag and it deflected off a sliding defender Palmer and over backpedaling goalkeeper Jahmali Waite.
Páez, the youngest player in the tournament at 17 years, 1 1/2 months, scored his second international goal after Chilean referee Cristián Garay called a hand ball on Reggae Boyz defender Greg Leigh following a video review.
Antonio scored after Palmer’s corner kick bounced to Ethan Pinnock. His shot hit the back of defender William Pacho, ricocheted off Hincapié and bounced toward Antonio. He swiveled, turned his torso and volleyed the ball in off goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez’s right post for Antonio’s fourth goal in 16 appearances.
Ecuador's William Pacho, front, and Felix Torres celebrate after their side's second goal against Jamaica during a Copa America Group B soccer match in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Garay decided not to award a penalty kick after another video review in the 75th. Michael Hector toepoked the ball and it appeared to hit an arm and the head of Ecuador’s Alan Franco.
Minda broke in alone on White in a counterattack following a Jamaica corner kick and slotted a shot past Waite for is first goal in six appearances, fed by a Carlos Gruezo pass.
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Ecuador's Moises Caicedo attempts to block a clearance by Jamaica's goalkeeper Jahmali Waite during a Copa America Group B soccer match in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Jamaica players appeal to referee Cristian Garay of Chile during a Copa America Group B soccer match against Ecuador in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Jamaica players protest a decision by referee Cristian Garay of Chile during a Copa America Group B soccer match against Ecuador in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Ecuador's Alan Minda slots the ball past Jamaica's goalkeeper Jahmali Waite to score his side's third goal during a Copa America Group B soccer match in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Ecuador's Alan Minda celebrates scoring his side's third goal against Jamaica during a Copa America Group B soccer match in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Jamaican team poses for a group photo prior to a Copa America Group B soccer match against Ecuador in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Ecuadorean team poses for a group photo prior to a Copa America Group B soccer match against Jamaica in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Ecuador's Kendry Paez scores a penalty, his side's second goal, against Jamaica during a Copa America Group B soccer match in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Ecuador players celebrate with fans after Kendry Paez scored their side's second goal against Jamaica during a Copa America Group B soccer match in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Jamaica's goalkeeper Jahmali Waite fails to stop an own goal by Kasey Palmer for Ecuador's first goal during a Copa America Group B soccer match in Las Vegas, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)