Enner-gised
Top scorer Valencia back in spotlight with Ecuador
JOURNEYMAN Ecuador striker Enner Valencia has drifted in and out – mainly out – of planet football’s consciousness.
The striker skirted the periphery of relevance until arriving at the World Cup, where suddenly he is in his element.
Ecuador’s 33-year-old captain burst into the limelight in Brazil 2014, scoring three in the group phase against Switzerland and Honduras, although his team were eliminated.
Eight years later, in the Qatar curtain-raiser on Nov 20, Valencia spoiled the party for the hosts with a brace to secure a 2-0 win and saw another goal ruled out.
Valencia’s spot-kick opener made him the oldest player to score the tournament’s opening goal.
Ecuador thrilled against Holland in their second match and deserved more than a 1-1 draw, in which Valencia struck again, emphasising his penchant for the big occasion.
Valencia is the tournament’s joint top goalscorer, along with France’s Kylian Mbappe, on three goals from two games.
“We know what a spectacular captain we have,” said leftback Pervis Estupinan. “He is always fighting to improve.”
Valencia is only the fourth player to score six consecutive goals for a nation at the World Cup, behind Portugal great Eusebio, Italy’s Paolo Rossi and Russia’s Oleg Salenko.
While coach Gustavo Alfaro rightly depends on Ecuador’s exciting youngsters, including Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, Estupinan and Jeremy Sarmiento, Valencia remains an essential presence.
Formerly a winger, Valencia has developed into Ecuador’s main goal threat and is their all-time top scorer with 38 goals.
Ahead of the World Cup he suffered a barren spell, with just one goal in eight games, but right on cue, the goals are flowing again in Qatar.
Ecuador’s main concern ahead is that Valencia has been forced off injured in both games, because of a knee problem.
“I did tests and it showed I have a knee sprain, which is annoying me a bit,” said the striker after the Holland draw.
“I played through the pain but the important thing is that I could help the team and we’re still strong.