QUITO, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador drew 2-2 with Paraguay at home in their fifth match of the World Cup 2018 Russia South American qualifiers on Thursday.
The match was intense and quite balanced with both sides pressurizing and seeking a goal.
The Paraguayans surprised many by managing to keep up the attacking despite Quito's high altitude (2,850 metres above sea-level).
Ecuador's scorers were forward Enner Valencia (West Ham United, England) in the 19th minute and winger Angel Mena (Emelec, Ecuador) in the 91st minute.
Forward Dario Lezcano (FC Ingolstadt, Germany) scored two goals for Paraguay in the 37th and 58th minute.
With this result, Ecuador stay at the top of the qualifying standings with 13 points.
In the sixth round of the qualifiers Ecuador will visit Colombia in Barranquilla on Tuesday and Paraguay will receive Brazil in Asuncion the same day.