Ecuador, Colombia draw 1-1

East Rutherford:

Ecuador held a lead for only three minutes and settled for a 1-1 draw with Colombia on Wednesday. The game was the first of Ecuador's first of the two preparation matches before the World Cup. Ecuador was playing with four of its regulars on the bench and in what appeared to be an experimental 4-3-3 formation. The team took the lead in the 52nd minute when Segundo Castillo ran onto an attempted clearance attempt by Haydee Palacio and drove a shot from the edge of the area.

Responding back Colombia responded three minutes later when Elkin Soto received a ball at the top of the Ecuadorean area and launched a left-footer that beat keeper Christian Mora inside the right post. "I believe we are not biting enough up front," Ecuador manager Luis Fernando said. "I liked the intensity of the game, because it is very much like the one at a World Cup game. That is why I am happy. They ran a lot and they didn't stop". Ecuador was to complete preparations in Spain, where it will face Macedonia in Madrid on Sunday. It opens the World Cup in Germany on June 9 against Poland. Colombia faces Romania in Chicago on Saturday before traveling to Europe and playing Poland, Germany and Morocco. Lineups: Ecuador: Christian Mora; Paul Ambrossi, Jorge Guagua, Ivan Hurtado, Neicer Reasco; Segundo Castillo, Edison Mendez (Christian Lara, 70), Edwin Tenorio (Patricio Urrutia, 78); Antonio Valencia (Fernando Saritama, 80); Feliz Borja, Ivan Kaviedes (Christian Benitez, 62). Colombia: Oscar Cordoba; Javier Arizala (Steven Velez, 75), Jose de la Cuesta, Haydee Palacio, Luis Perea; Tressor Moreno (Luis Yanes, 65), Jario Patino, Elkin Soto, Fabian Vargas (Jaime Castrillon, 46), Jhon Viafara; Hugo Rodallega (Fredy Guarin, 88). (AP)