World Football

QUITO, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Three players were sent off as Ecuador beat Chile 1-0 in an ugly foul-ridden World Cup qualifier on Sunday to revive their chances of qualifying for South Africa.

Ecuador striker Christian Benitez, who fuelled the rivalry before the game by saying that Chile had a weak attack, scored the winner in the 71st minute.

Chile appeared to prove Benitez right in his pre-match comments as they failed to muster a shot on goal.

The visitors, who made their last finals appearance in 1998, were in trouble from the 20th minute when defender Ismael Fuentes was sent off for a late tackle on Joffre Guerron.

Ecuador had Luis Antonio Valencia dismissed in the 76th minute for a studs-up challenge and he was followed by Chile defender Gonzalo Jara in the 83rd minute for a second bookable offence.

The match completed the first half of the marathon 18-game South American qualifying campaign.

Ecuador, attempting to reach their third successive World Cup, jumped to sixth place with 12 points from nine games, behind Uruguay on goal difference, while Chile stayed fourth with 13.

Paraguay lead with 20 points, followed by Brazil, who won 4-0 in Venezuela, and Argentina on 16.

The top four teams qualify directly for South Africa and the fifth play off against the fourth side from the CONCACAF region.

The Atahualpa crowd had to wait until the end of the first half for some excitement when Ecuador midfielder Segundo Castillo had a shot parried by Claudio Bravo and Valencia hit the crossbar with a 30-metre drive.

Ecuador eventually broke through from a corner when Bravo misjudged the ball, leaving Benitez with a header at the far post.

Bravo partly atoned for his mistake with a fine save from another Benitez header as the hosts pressed for a second.