Former West Ham United striker Enner Valencia has seen his country Ecuador exit the World Cup at the group stage after a 2-1 defeat to Senegal.
Valencia, who has captained Ecuador at the tournament, was a surprise inclusion in the side for their final Group A match against Senegal having been forced off on a stretcher during their 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Monday.
The former Hammers striker, who scored ten goals in 68 West Ham appearances between 2014 and 2017, went into the game knowing his side needed just a point from their final Group A game to book their place in the round of 16 where they could have faced England.
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However, Senegal took the lead in the winner-takes-all affair on the stroke of half time. After Watford winger Ismaila Sarr was fouled in the penalty box, Sarr took the penalty and scored to put Senegal 1-0 up.
Ecuador thought they had got the draw they needed when Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo converted at the end of a corner. That goal was short-lived though, with Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly volleying at the end of a free-kick just two minutes after Caicedo's leveller.
It means that Valencia will no longer play in the tournament after Ecuador finished third in the Group A table, despite currently being sat joint-top of the Golden Boot scoring charts alongside France striker Kylian Mbappe and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo. All three have scored three each, with Valencia netting twice against Qatar and the equaliser against the Netherlands.
With Senegal finishing second in Group A, they could face England in the Round of 16, should the Three Lions seal victory over Wales on Tuesday night.
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