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HAITI HAMMERED

Ecuador 4 Haiti 0: Premier League pair Enner & Antonio Valencia on target as Ecuador set up quarter final with host nation USA

West Ham and Man United stars light up Copa America as Haiti put to the sword in New Jersey

Christian Noboa celebrates with team-mates after Ecuador's third goal

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ENNER VALENCIA starred as Ecuador hammered Haiti in New Jersey to set up a quarter final with hosts USA.

Ecuador kicked off the game knowing that a win by 2 goals or more would give them safe passage to the knockout stages, as Peru and Brazil play later tonight and wouldn't both be able to better them in the table.

There were familiar faces on show, as Premier League trio Jefferson Montero, Enner Valencia and Antonio Valencia all started for La Tricolor.

 Players from both sides held a minutes silence for victims of the Orlando shootings
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Players from both sides held a minutes silence for victims of the Orlando shootingsCredit: Getty Images
 Haiti came into the match looking to fare better than their 7-1 defeat to Brazil
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Haiti came into the match looking to fare better than their 7-1 defeat to BrazilCredit: Getty Images

And they began the match like a train, storming forward at every opportunity - with Haiti barely holding on in the first 10 minutes.

The underdogs couldn't deal with the pace of the direct Ecuadorians and fell behind as West Ham's Valencia beat the offside trap and confidently slid the ball past Johnny Placide.

 Jaime Ayovi celebrates doubling Ecuador's advantage
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Jaime Ayovi celebrates doubling Ecuador's advantageCredit: Getty Images
 Valencia set Ecuador on their way with a fine opening goal
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Valencia set Ecuador on their way with a fine opening goalCredit: Getty Images

It was simply a case of how many for the men in yellow, who'd clearly taken notes after Brazil thumped SEVEN past the hapless Haitians in the last group game.

The attacks just kept coming and the inevitable second goal came as Jaime Ayovi confidently smashed past Placide.

 Frickson Erazo was unlucky to see his header crash back off the bar
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Frickson Erazo was unlucky to see his header crash back off the barCredit: Getty Images

For the rest of the half it was one-way traffic but the Haiti defence stood strong despite Valencia again going close with an acrobatic effort and Frickson Erazo crashed a header off the bar.

The islanders put up a decent fight after the restart but had no answer to the trickery of Ecuador's front three - and after super interplay Christian Noboa smashed in the third on the half volley.

 

 Christian Noboa celebrates with team-mates after Ecuador's third goal
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Christian Noboa celebrates with team-mates after Ecuador's third goalCredit: Getty Images

Despite being left to dictate the ball by Ecuador, Haiti were unable to contain the South American's when they got into the final third and  United star Valencia was able to tap in another fine team move to seal a 4-0 drubbing.

The result leaves Ecuador guaranteed to finish in second place - with Brazil set to play Peru later tonight to see who joins them in the next round.

Delighted boss Gustavo Quinteros said: "We have achieved one of the goals, now we want to move forward.

"We will face the next game like a final".

Keep up to date with the Copa America 2016 with our guide.