A day after Seattle Sounders midfielder Gustav Svensson captained Sweden in a 2-0 friendly loss to Denmark, Sounders defender Xavier Arreaga started and went all 90 minutes in a 3-2 win over Bolivia on Thursday in CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup Qualifying. It was Arreaga’s ninth senior cap.
Juan Carlos Arce opened the scoring for Bolivia in the 37th minute before Ecuador took a 2-1 lead on goals from Beder Caicedo in the 46th minute and Ángel Mena in the 55th minute. Bolivia equalized just five minutes later on a goal from Marcelo Martins Moreno, but La Tri found the winner in the 88th when former FC Dallas midfielder Carlos Gruezo converted a penalty.
Ecuador is currently third in the CONMEBOL standings after three matches, with the top four teams qualifying automatically for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the fifth-place team playing an intercontinental playoff. Ecuador takes on Colombia on Nov. 17.
Sounders forward Raúl Ruidíaz started for Peru and went 60 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Chile on Friday. Inter Milan midfielder Arturo Vidal struck twice in the first half for the hosts.
Ruidíaz now has 45 caps for La Blanquirroja, who take on Argentina on Tuesday. Peru is currently eighth in the CONMEBOL standings after failing to win in any of its first three matches.
