Moises Caicedo helped strengthen Ecuador's bid to reach the 2026 World Cup by ensuring his country claimed victory over Venezuela this evening while Chelsea captain Reece James made his first England appearance in two years.
Caicedo started and completed La Tricolor's qualifier, which ended in a deserved win after striker Enner Valencia netted twice on either side of half time.
The result moves Ecuador – for whom Chelsea-bound Kendry Paez was an unused substitute – into second in the ten-team CONMEBOL qualifying group. They next face Chile in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Elsewhere in South American qualifying, Brazil defeated Colombia 2-1 thanks to a 99th-minute goal from Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior. Estevao Willian, who will join Chelsea after turning 18 years old, was an unused substitute for the Selecao.
Closer to home, James earned his first England cap since March 2023 after being introduced in the final stages of the Three Lions' 2-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Albania.
Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly broke the deadlock for the home side at Wembley in the 20th minute and Harry Kane struck in the second period to ensure Thomas Tuchel's reign got off to a winning start.
James replaced Lewis-Skelly in the latter minutes of the contest while Levi Colwill was an unused substitute. Fellow Academy graduate Armando Broja, who is on a season-long loan at Everton, featured for the visitors.
At youth level, Blues midfielder Ollie Harrison played the final 21 minutes of England Under-18s' 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic. Academy goalkeepers Jack Austin and Freddy Bernal were unused substitutes for the Young Lions.