GLENDALE, Ariz. — Peru was within sight of a place in the quarterfinals, but Ecuador mounted an impressive two-goal comeback to split the points in a thrilling encounter.

Ecuador found itself down 2-0 after 13 minutes, but rallied to pick up a 2-2 draw in a back-and-forth affair at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Wednesday night. The comeback started with a strong Enner Valencia volley in the 39th minute, and was completed by a tap-in finish from Miller Bolanos three minutes after halftime.

Goals from Christian Cueva and Edison Flores had Peru on cloud nine in the opening minutes of the Group B game, but defensive errors combined with improved play from Ecuador undid the bright start.

The draw leaves Ecuador with two points from two games and in third place in Group B while dropping Peru to second with four points.

Trailing by two goals late in a first half that went largely in the Peruvians’ favor, Ecuador found a lifeline six minutes before halftime. A poor Alberto Rodriguez clearance fell to Antonio Valencia on the play, and the Ecuadorian attacker proceed to float in a pass to Enner Valencia for an impressive volleyed finish that found the corner of the net.

Ecuador did not have to wait long into the second half to pull level, as another ball clipped into the penalty area caught Peru’s back line napping. Jefferson Montero raced to the ball down the left side and proceeded to hit a low cross that Bolanos only had to push home from close range.

Gustavo Quintero’s men were the stronger side after the intermission, and that was a stark contrast to the first half when Peru was the aggressor that dictated the tempo. The Peruvians were sharper from the onset, and struck in the fifth minute through Cueva in spectacular fashion.

After receiving a short diagonal pass from striker Paolo Guerrero, Cueva pulled a smooth 180-spin and nutmegged centerback Gabriel Achilier. The talented attacker was left wide open as a result, and made no mistake with his low effort.

If Peru was on cloud nine after that strike, it might have created another level entirely eight minutes later. Flores doubled the lead for the Peruvians by collecting a headed pass from the impressive Guerrero and turning to tuck a shot just inside the near post.

Ricardo Gareca’s team was overwhelmed for much of the second half and needed goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to come up with some saves to keep the score level, but it still almost reclaimed the lead on a couple of instances. The Peruvians had a goal in the 55th minute disallowed because of a foul called on Guerrero, and also saw a shot from substitute forward Raul Ruidiaz go inches wide in the final seconds of the game.

Ecuador finished the match with 10 men after Achilier was sent off with a second yellow card in the 93rd minute.

MAN OF THE MATCH

It took a while for the Ecuadorians to find their rhythm, but they did thanks in large part to the play of Enner Valencia. The veteran striker used his speed, strength, and aggressiveness on the ball to help lead the Ecuador attack, and his incredible finish minutes before halftime was both impressive and vital.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Ecuador finding a late first-half goal was instrumental to its comeback. Not only did Valencia’s goal bring the Ecuadorians to within one, but it also gave them newfound confidence. Ecuador was the better side for much of the second half, and it found a tying goal before threatening to score a winner on multiple occasions.

MATCH TO FORGET

Alberto Rodriguez might be having nightmares for the next few days. It was his poor, low clearance in the first half that gave the Ecuadorians the ball in a dangerous spot in the 39th minute, and he only compounded matters by leaving Enner Valencia onside to score the goal. Rodriguez was at least partially at fault on the equalizer as well, as he was one of a couple of players to leave Montero onside for the cross that Bolanos pushed home.