Sanchez strikes again to take Chile into Copa quarters

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 Chile's Alexis Sanchez shoots at goal from a free kick REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

SALVADOR, Brazil (Reuters) - Alexis Sanchez shrugged off an ankle injury and continued his resurgent form at the Copa America as the Chile striker fired his side to a 2-1 victory over Ecuador on Friday which took the holders into the quarter-finals of the competition.

Chile took the lead in the eighth minute when Jose Fuenzalida volleyed into the net but Ecuador were awarded a penalty when goalkeeper Gabriel Arias clattered Jhegson Mendez, allowing Enner Valencia to level from the spot in the 26th.

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 Chile's Mauricio Isla in action REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Sanchez, who had ended a barren five-month spell by scoring in Monday's 4-0 win against Japan, put Chile ahead early in the second half, expertly guiding a bouncing cross into the net with one touch.

Ecuador, who were hammered 4-0 by Uruguay in their opening game, rarely threatened again and saw defender Gabriel Achilier receive a straight red card in stoppage time for a rash tackle on Arturo Vidal, who had to be taken off.

Sanchez later revealed he had been playing with an ankle injury sustained in the first half.

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 Ecuador's Robert Arboleda and Carlos Garces in action with Chile's Guillermo Maripan REUTERS/Rodolfo Buhrer

"After a cross I rolled my ankle but I put a bandage on it, I took a pill for the pain and I came out again," he told reporters.

"I think I have a sprain, I was playing with pain but I hope it's not too serious."

Chile coach Reinaldo Rueda praised Sanchez for playing on, adding that the ankle was not the same one he injured in May.

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 Chile's Alexis Sanchez in action with Ecuador's Antonio Valencia REUTERS/Rodolfo Buhrer

"He was evaluated by the doctors at halftime who said he could continue, although he put lots of ice on it at halftime. He made a huge effort in the second half," he said.

"We'll evaluate it again but we hope it isn't serious."

Chile, Copa champions in 2015 and 2016, lead Group C on six points. Uruguay are second on four with Japan third on one and Ecuador bottom with no points.

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 Ecuador's Robert Arboleda in action with Chile's Eduardo Vargas REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

Ecuador still have an outside chance of sneaking into the quarter-finals as one of the two best ranked third-place finishers but they must win their game against Japan on Monday and hope other results go their way.

Their coach, Hernan Dario Gomez, gave the briefest of post-match news conferences, saying he was not in the mood to take questions and gave a short assessment of the game before leaving.

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 Ecuador's Robert Arboleda is shown a yellow card by referee Patricio Loustau REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 Ecuador's Gabriel Achiller in action with Chile's Arturo Vidal REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 Chile's Arturo Vidal is shown a yellow card by referee Patricio Loustau REUTERS/Rodolfo Buhrer

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 Chile's Gabriel Arias in action with Ecuador's Ayrton Preciado REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 Chile's Arturo Vidal in action REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 Chile's Gonzalo Jara and Paulo Diaz celebrate after the match REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Soccer Football - Copa America Brazil 2019 - Group C - Ecuador v Chile - Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil - June 21, 2019 General view of fans during the match REUTERS/Rodolfo Buhrer