E.Valencia scored both Ecuador goals
Costly's goal ended a run of 510 minutes for the Hondurans without a World Cup goal
Enner Valencia has netted three times in his past two games against Honduras
Ecuador have been involved in a draw at the World Cup
Enner Valencia scored both goals as Ecuador left Honduras on the verge of exiting the Fifa 2014 World Cup.
Carlo Costly latched onto a long ball and lashed in a low 20-yard shot to put Honduras ahead on 31 minutes.
Ecuador quickly equalised when a deflected cross fell for Valencia to slot home, and he then nodded in at the far post to give his side the lead.
Honduras pressed for an equaliser but a goal eluded them and they have now lost both of their first two group games.
"Ecuador just had a bit more quality than Honduras,
and fair play to them. They can be proud of their performances. They
were unlucky to lose against Switzerland, very good against Honduras and
I hope they give it a real go against France."
Honduras have yet to win in
eight World Cup matches and, even if they beat Switzerland in their
final group game, are not certain to reach the next round because of
their goal difference.
Ecuador will meet France in their final group game and,
if Switzerland beat or draw against Honduras, they need to match that
result to reach the last 16.
Reinaldo Rueda's side knew defeat against Honduras would knock them out, and they should have taken an early lead.
A long ball from centre-back Jorge Guagua released Valencia, but he side-footed over the crossbar.
Honduras defender Victor Bernardez headed wide when unmarked before setting up his side's opening goal as his long clearance set Costly free to net emphatically.
The goal was Honduras' first at a World Cup since 1982, but their lead did not last long.
Enner Valencia in focus
As a child, 24-year-old Enner Valencia milked cows and then sold the milk in his rural village in order to pay for his first pair of football boots.
Valencia slotted in an equaliser from close range after a Juan Paredes shot was deflected into his path.
Honduras were showing they had more to them than the
aggressive style they have become renowned for, and Bernardez had a
long-range free-kick palmed away by keeper Alexander Dominguez.
They then thought they had restored their lead but, when Jerry Bengtson bundled home after a Costly header came off the post, the referee disallowed the goal for handball.
Rueda's side heeded the warning, and forward Felipe Caicedo looked to be caught by Maynor Figueroa on his way to goal, although the referee rejected Ecuador's penalty appeals.
However, Valencia nodded in at the far post following a Walter Ayovi free-kick to settle the game with his seventh goal in six internationals.
Honduras manager Luis Suarez:
"It was a very hard-fought match. I think we had a bit of difficulty keeping our nerves in check given what was at stake in the game, but I'm satisfied with my team.
"We know it'll be tough to reach the next round, but it'd be even worse to have been knocked out already.
"We need to find a way to improve in order to win and while there's hope, we won't give up without a fight."
Ecuador manager Reinaldo Rueda:
" Even though we went behind, we got our goals at decisive moments and that put us in charge of the match.
"We know that reaching the next round isn't entirely in our own hands but we need to focus on our own game.
"We'll have to play as well, or even better than we did today to beat France, because they're a side that have grown a lot in the last few months."
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