Socceroos’ Tim Cahill scored two and was brought down for the penalty that accounted for the other. But second period finishes from Martinez, Castillo, Enner Valencia and Mendez meant their night ended in defeat.
While England were bumbling their way to a dull 1-0 win over Denmark at Wembley, the real show was at the home of Millwall.
It seemed fair that a former Millwall star Cahill should star in the opening stages, becoming the all-time top goal scorer for Australia with his eighth minute opener when he pounced on loose ball from a corner to finish oh-so familiarly with his head.
Surprisingly, when Cahill was brought down minutes later it was Crystal Palace defender Mile Jedinak who stepped up to take it. He hit it low and to the left to send the keeper the wrong way and make no mistake.
Cahill then made it 3-0 after 32 minutes with another header on the end of a ball from Tommy Oar.
That’s how the first half ended, and with it being a friendly wholesale changes were made. But this didn’t mean the excitement was over.
Ecuador hit back on the counter after 57 minutes through Fidel Martinez, though Enner Valencia deserves much of the credit for his overlapping run and cross for the tap in.
The game changed complexion again when Mitch Langerak, who’d come on at half time, but got himself sent off for hacking down Enner Valencia.
The in a frenetic five minutes, Segundo Castillo sends Brad Jones – Australia’s third keeper for the night – the wrong way with the penalty.
It was Valencia again – not the Manchester United Antonio one – in the action after 77 minutes to bring the scores level after the Aussies gave up the ball in the midfield.
With all the momentum, Ecuador claimed the winner two minutes into added time when Wilkinson lost the ball to Antonio Valencia who crossed in. Martinez missed it all together, but maybe it was a wacky dummy for substitute Edison Mendez who put it away.
What did we learn? Maybe that what happens at Wembley may not always be the best show in town. But little more as far as World Cup preparations are concerned.
Images via Getty
