Today’s Video – A Tribute to “Chucho”

We continue our look this week at memorable qualifying matches for this year’s World Cup with a bittersweet victory for Ecuador.

The sudden and tragic death of twenty-seven-year-old Christian Benitez last August weighed heavily in the minds of the Ecuadorian men’s national team.  The memory of Chucho, who was a member of Ecuador’s 2006 World Cup squad, weighed heavily on Reinaldo Rueda’s side and they only collected one point in their two World Cup qualifiers on the road after Benitez passed away. With their possibility of making it to Brazil apparently slipping away, Ecuador eagerly awaited their homecoming on October 11th against Uruguay.  The fourth-place team in the World Cup 2010 was looking to rebound following a terrible start and was on the hunt for the final qualifying spot held by Ecuador.  Thus the stage was set for a highly emotional clash at Quito’s Estadio Atahualpa.

In the thirtieth minute of the deadlocked match, Antonio Valencia received the ball on the near side.  The speedy winger, who was made captain of La Tri following Benitez’ death, flew by Diego Godin followed by a perfect low cross to the streaking Jefferson Montero who knocked in what would become the match’s only goal. 

Two months before, Montero scored a goal while playing in Mexico, took off his jersey to reveal a t-shirt with Benitez’ image and wept with anguish.  This time his tears were mixed with the joy of over 33,000 screaming Ecuadorian fans in the stadium and the hugs of his grateful teammates.

As seen in the video below the page break, the Ecuadorian team cried, screamed and took a victory lap around the Atahualpa following the final whistle.  They had practically assured themselves of the last South American qualifying berth.

Ecuadorian Soccer Star Christian Benitez Dies

In the past week, the U.S. continued its eleven-match winning streak by capturing the Gold Cup while Atletico Mineiro of Brazil overcame a two-goal deficit to earn its first ever Copa Libertadores title.  Off the field, however, the soccer world is mourning the sudden death of one of Ecuador’s top players.

Twenty-seven-year-old Christian Benitez passed away on Monday in Qatar only one day after playing his first game for new side El Jaish.

The cause of death has yet to be established though a statement issued by El Jaish noted that Benitez “participated in yesterday's match against Qatar Sports Club in the Sheikh Jassem Cup without complaining of any health problems.”  Nevertheless, Benitez’ agent, Jose Chamorro, told an Ecuadorian TV station that the striker may have died due to a possible heart attack.

The player affectionately nicknamed “Chucho” is being mourned in his native Ecuador where the country’s president, Rafael Correa, who mourned the “tragedy that has hit us all”.

“You will always be my brother,” tweeted Ecuadorian soccer star Antonio Valencia along with a photo of Benitez during his time with El Nacional of Ecuador.

He is also being remembered in Mexico where he tallied over 100 goals in a four-year period for Santos Laguna and Club America.
 
"Olé, olé, olé Chucho, Chucho" chanted dozens of Club America fans who gathered this morning at the club’s training ground with photos, posters and replica jerseys of Benitez.

“RIP ‘Chucho’ Benitez…you will live forever in the hearts of your fans,” tweeted ex-Mexican international and Santos Laguna legend Jared Borgetti.