Leguizamón's stoppage-time header rescues Emelec against Leones del Norte

Stoppage time handed Emelec a joy that, for much of the afternoon, seemed to be slipping away. Aníbal Leguizamón rose to head home the 2-1 winner against Leones del Norte, giving Ezequiel Medrán the best possible debut as head coach of the Bombillo, in matchday 27 of the 2026 Ecuabet League.

The match opened with a textbook move. Luca Klimowicz combined with Luis Fragozo, who broke away down the wing and delivered a precise cross for Juan Pablo Ruiz to finish without trouble. Everything pointed to a quiet afternoon for the home side. It didn't turn out that way.

With Matías Córdoba directing from the sideline, Leones del Norte grew into the match and gradually took control of the ball and the field. The visitors found their reward in the 24th minute: a corner from Emiliano Griffa, a near-post flick from Juan Luis Anangonó and a header that left Mario Valero with no chance. The score was level and the match was wide open.

A squad still being pieced together

It shows when a coach has just arrived. Medrán had barely had a few days to work with the squad, and it showed: Emelec struggled to find clear patterns, and even Fragozo, who had been the most incisive player, gradually faded from the game. Injuries to Ignacio Guerrico and to Valero himself didn't help settle the team either.

The introduction of Francisco Pizzini nearly changed the story early. The forward drove into the box with purpose, but in a one-on-one he ran into a solid save from goalkeeper Leonel Nazareno. Even so, something shifted after he came on: Emelec began pressing with more intensity, and Fragozo reemerged as a source of creativity.

Leones, meanwhile, changed their approach. They stopped looking for Anangonó as much and prioritized holding onto the ball, protecting the result against a direct rival in the standings. On the other side, Medrán reshuffled the attack with David Saya, a player who doesn't usually operate as a forward, which cost the home side some of their offensive edge.

Playing with more heart than polish, Emelec kept pushing until the end. And in stoppage time came the reward: a precise corner from Gonzalo Napoli found Leguizamón's head for the decisive 2-1.

The win puts Emelec in 11th place in the standings, a spot that currently places them in the relegation hexagonal. It's not the position the club is hoping for, but the result carries extra value: it took three points away from a direct rival in Leones del Norte, right in the final stretch of the championship. There are three matchdays left for Emelec to try to break into the group stage that grants a spot in the next Copa Sudamericana.