Honduras' Erick Arias (white jersey) defends Jhon Pereira of Ecuador during their FIFA U-17 Men's World Cup match on October 18, 2015, in Talca, Chile. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images)
TALCA, Chile -- Ecuador scored twice early en route to a 3-1 victory over Honduras in the FIFA U-17 World Cup opener for each at the Estadio Fiscal on Sunday.
In the other Group D game, Belgium and Mali battled to a scoreless stalemate.
Yeison Guerrero gave the South Americans a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute with a brilliant, swerving right-footed effort from 33-yards out that nestled into the right-side netting beyond helpless Honduras goalkeeper Henry Mashburn.
Twelve minutes later, Pervis Estupiñan doubled Ecuador’s advantage, calmly burying a penalty kick after Allan Rivera blocked a Washington Corozo cross inside the box with his hand.
The result was left doubtless in the 76th minute, when Joan Cortez tapped in his own rebound from the doorstep following some fine play between Jhon Pereira and Estupiñan in the Honduran box.
Foslyn Grant -- who scored once in the 2015 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship -- netted a consolation goal for Honduras with seven minutes remaining in normal time, lashing home with his right foot from eight-yards out.
The Hondurans will look to bounce back against Belgium on Wednesday.
