Ecuador defeats Peru in a hard-fought CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2025™ match

• It was the first win for the hosts in this edition, held in Quito.
• La Bicolor scored their first goal with Raquel Bilcape.

Hosts Ecuador secured their first win in the CONMEBOL Copa América Femenina 2025™ by defeating Peru 3-1 in a match played on Tuesday, July 15. The game was part of Group A in this edition of the tournament.

The match began with Ecuador dominating possession, though Peru gradually gained confidence and started pushing forward. Still, it was the Ecuadorians who struck first: on a counterattack, Nayely Bolaños found Emily Arias, who finished calmly with a low shot to score her second goal of the tournament.

From then on, Ecuador largely controlled the game, though they struggled to finish their chances. Bolaños (twice) and Espinales missed the target. Then, in the 40th minute, Danna Pesántez was fouled in the box after dribbling past Tifani Molina. Nayely Bolaños converted the penalty with power to double Ecuador’s lead.

Not much changed after the break, with Ecuador continuing to press. Karen Flores made a great individual run in the 52nd minute and hit the post. Peru eventually found a rhythm offensively and created some trouble for the hosts: Bilcape had two shots inside the box in the 61st minute, narrowly missing.

Persistence paid off, and La Bicolor pulled one back through Raquel Bilcape, who finished a low cross from Canales on the right side into the bottom corner of Andrea Morán’s goal. Peru kept pressing, and Geraldine Cisneros forced a great save from Morán in the closing minutes. But it was Ecuador who had the final word: in stoppage time, Ligia Moreira headed home from a corner to seal the 3-1 result.

With four points in two matches, Ecuador now leads Group A and will rest over the weekend before facing Chile next Monday, July 21. Peru, on the other hand, will face Uruguay on Friday (July 18) as both sides look for their first win in the tournament.

Lineups and match information

Peru (1): 12-Maryory Sánchez; 2-Gianella Romero, 3-Tifani Molina, 13-Mia León, 14-Scarleth Flores; 22-Mia Obando, 6-Claudia Cagnina, 15-Emily Flores, 18-Alison Azabache, 21-Raquel Bilcape; 9-Pierina Núñez.

Substitutes: 8-Geraldine Cisneros, 11-Xioczana Canales, 7-Gladys Dorador, 16-Yomira Acosta, 20-Valerie Gherson.

Cards: Gianella Romero, Gladys Dorador (Y).

Coach: Emily Lima

Ecuador (3): 12-Andrea Morán; 19-Kerlly Real, 2-Mayerli Rodríguez, 16-Ligia Moreira, 15-Manoly Baquerizo; 5-Stefany Cedeño, 10-Joselyn Espinales, 7-Emily Arias, 20-Danna Pesántez; 11-Karen Flores, 9-Nayely Bolaños.

Substitutes: 13-Nicole Charcopa, 18-Rosa Flores, 4-Justine Cuadra, 8-Evelyn Burgos.

Cards: Ligia Moreira, Evelyn Burgos (Y).

Coach: Eduardo Moscoso

Goals:

1st half: 16' Emily Arias (ECU), 41' Nayely Bolaños (ECU) – Halftime score: Ecuador 2-0 Peru

2nd half: 69' Raquel Bilcape (PER), 90+6' Ligia Moreira (ECU) – Full time: Ecuador 3-1 Peru

Referee: Ivana Projkovska (MKD)

Venue: Estadio IDV, Quito

Betano MVP: Nayely Bolaños (ECU)