Caracas - Venezuela put on a surprising second-half performance to beat Ecuador 3-1 in the South American qualifiers toward the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Ecuador pulled ahead Wednesday with a goal from Isaac Mina in the 10th minute, but Venezuela reversed things in Puerto La Cruz with goals by Giancarlo Maldonado in the 48th minute, Alejandro Moreno eight minutes later and Juan Arango in the 67th minute.
Venezuela - the only country in South America where football is not the most popular sport - had lost their last four games in the qualifiers before Wednesday's match, including a 4-0 thrashing by Brazil Sunday.
The Ecuadorians, in turn, had lost their first three games en route to South Africa, prompting the exit of coach Luis Fernando Suarez and his replacement by Sixto Vizuete. They had not dropped a game since, with three wins and three draws before losing to Venezuela.
