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Ecuador slump to Macedonia defeat
SPECIAL REPORTMADRID, Spain -- Ecuador slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Macedonia in their final warm-up game before the World Cup on Sunday. The loss in Madrid was particularly worrying for the South Americans because of an injury to goalscorer Carlos Tenorio and a nerve-riddled performance from keeper Edwin Villafuerte. Tenorio put Ecuador ahead with a fine solo goal in the 19th minute, but Macedonia were gifted an equaliser when Villafuerte fumbled a cross and allowed striker Goran Maznov to poke the ball home on the half hour. The Ecuador striker was carried off on a stretcher with a leg injury midway through the second half and Macedonia grabbed the victory eight minutes later when defender Igor Mitreski blasted home from the penalty spot after Aco Stojkov went down in the area. Luis Fernando Suarez's side poured forward in the closing minutes, but were denied an equaliser by some brilliant reflex saves from Macedonia keeper Jane Nikoloski. Ecuador, who finished third behind Brazil and Argentina in qualifying, have won just one of their last nine games and this performance will have done little for their morale ahead of their second appearance in a World Cup. They have been drawn in Group A together with hosts Germany, Poland and Costa Rica. They open their campaign against the Poles in Gelsenkirchen on June 9. "It was a strange game because we made a lot of errors in defence, an area where we are normally strong," said Suarez. "I hope it was just a bad day because normally it is in attack where we have problems. "We played well up until they equalised and had plenty of chances after each of their goals but we just weren't able to take advantage. They appeared more relaxed and played with more freedom than us. "Still it is better that this all happened today rather than on June 9. If we make the same mistakes then there will be no way back. But I'm calm and I'm clear about the areas in which we have to improve." However, the Colombian coach admitted that he was worried by the injury to Tenorio. "Carlos has a calf injury, but we will have to wait for the results of a scan tomorrow," he said. "I just hope and pray that he will be with us for the start of the World Cup." 
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