Ecuador Team: Mora, De La Cruz, Hurtado, Espinosa(Guagua 69), Reasco, Mendez, E.Tenorio, Valencia(Urrutia 73), Castillo, C.Tenorio(Kaviedes 46), Delgado

Costa Rica Team: Porras, Gonzalez(Hernandez 56), Umana, Marin, Sequeira, Fonseca(Saborio 29), Centeno(Bernard 84), Solis, Wallace, Gomez, Wanchope.

Match Report: Ecuador had the chance to qualify for the knockout stages with a win here in Hamburg, and Costa Rica would still be in with a chance of qualification too with a victory. All things pointed to a good contest with such a prize at stake. In reality only one team brought their game to the party and Ecuador strolled through.

Ecuador started as if they meant business. Their midfield were first to everything in the early stages and were not keen to release the ball unless there was a viable option to keep possession. Similarly their defence looked very solid as they did in their opener with Poland, and were quickly onto Wanchope whenever he recieved the ball. You got the sense he was seen by Ecuador as the danger man, and if they could stop him having good ball they could negate the Cost Rica threat. So it proved all game.

Castillo and Valencia were very evident early on for Ecuador, looking to probe forward. It was from a Valencia centre that Ecuador opened the scoring, with Carlos Tenorio getting just the right contact on his header to make it unsaveable. Tenorio again looked quick and direct, a definite goal threat.

With less than ten minutes gone Ecuador were now in full control of the game, and Costa Rica were still in first gear. They would really have to dig deep and throw caution to the wind, if their World Cup hopes were to continue for one further game. They introduced a third striker, Saborio to hopefully give them more threat, unfortunately for them, the Ecuadorians were in no mood to let a lead slip.

Again the midfield was controlled by Ecuador, and Centeno and Solis, the Costa Rican playmakers could not get time on the ball. When Costa Rica did get the ball up to Wanchope, Saborio or Gomez, they were expertly ushered away from the danger areas.

The Ecuador threat for the remainder of the half came from the flanks as De La Cruz and Reasco were more than willing to bomb forward. A second goal almost came on the stroke of half time.

Castillo played a wicked cross from the right that skirted the six yard box and bypassed all the defenders, with Delgado waiting to apply a tap in. Delgado made a terrible hash of it when he should have scored.

Half Time: Ecuador 1 Costa Rica 0

Carlos Tenorio had to be replaced by Kaviedes after taking a knock, and Ecuador will hope to have him back for the knockout stages.

Clearly in no mood to allow Costa Rica to rob them of their destiny in the next round, Ecuador started the second half in a similar manner.

Delgado had a good early shot on target after good work from Valencia, then a second goal came to almost kill off the game completely.

Costa Rica were caught napping by a quick throw down the right and Mendez's flick found the chest of Delgado's chest in the box. Delgado's quick turn and bullet shot was past Mora's near post in a flash, but perhaps the keeper's positioning was at fault.

Costa Rica showed brief moments of inspiration, but seldom looked like reducing the arrears. Solis had a good adventurous run through the middle and got a shot on target, but the three strikers were well and truly shackled by Hurtado, Espinosa and De La Cruz who was having an unusually good game.

Luis Suarez saw the chance to rest some of his players, perhaps with one eye on his next match against Germany. On came Urrutia ror Valencia and Guagua for Espinosa. Still Ecuador looked comfortable.

The game ended in a flurry of activity as Kaviedes ran the Costa Rica defence ragged, netting once when offside, and the Cost Ricans tried desperately to salvage some pride with a goal. They almost did this when Saborio's shot cannoned off the crossbar.

A superb last minute to the game produced it's best goal as Kaviedes put Ecuador 3-0 up and top of Group A. Mendez crossed from the left and Kaviedes arriving at speed volleyed home emphatically.

His celebration was of the same high quality as the goal, donning a yellow Spiderman mask to the delight of the crowd. Best celebration yet.

Onwards and possibly England for Ecuador - 1 more game, then home for Costa Rica.

Full Time: Ecuador 3 Costa Rica 0

Ecuador Team: Mora 6, De La Cruz 8, Hurtado 7, Espinosa 7, Reasco 7, Mendez 7, E.Tenorio 7, Valencia 8, Castillo 6, C.Tenorio 7, Delgado 6
Subs: Kaviedes 7, Urrutia 6, Guagua 6
Goals: C.Tenorio 8, Delgado, 53, Kaviedes 90+

Costa Rica Team: Porras 6, Gonzalez 4, Umana 5, Marin 5, Sequeira 5, Fonseca 5, Centeno 6, Solis 6, Wallace 6, Gomez 5, Wanchope 4.
Subs: Saborio 5, Hernandez 5, Bernard 4

Referee: C. Codjia (Benin) 7. Well refereed and generally sensible. A little eager early on, but settled and let the match flow.

Good: Ecuador have looked impressive in both games. Well organised at the back, compact in midfield and adefinite goal threat in Tenorio up front. Kaviedes's Spiderman mask - pure class.

Bad: Costa Rica could have done a bit more, seeing as their World Cup survival was at stake. A bit too laid back.

Ugly: Sorry, but Ronald Gomez again. He's scary.