Enner Valencia wastes early chance as Ecuador‑Curaçao draw

In Kansas City, United States, Ecuador and Curaçao remained deadlocked at 0‑0 in the second round of Group E at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday (20), when Enner Valencia, unmarked on the edge of the six‑yard box two minutes in, saw his clear one‑on‑one chance saved by the Curaçao goalkeeper. The missed chance evoked "good memories" for Fluminense supporters. It also sparked "nightmares" among Internacional fans recalling the 2023 Copa Libertadores. The match remained scoreless after the early chance. Argentina’s Diario Olé shared a video of the incident with the caption: "WATCH OUT! Enner Valencia wasted a clear one‑on‑one chance with the goalkeeper right at the start of the match, and the shot went way off...". The outlet highlighted the rarity of such a miss early in a World Cup game.

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Brazilian fans on social media quickly circulated the clip, emphasizing the missed opportunity. Their comments added to the global mockery of the striker. Enner Valencia currently plays for Pachuca of Mexico. The Ecuadorian forward remains a key figure for his club despite the World Cup blunder.

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The article was translated into English by artificial intelligence. The original Portuguese version is available online.