Soccer-Ecuador beat 10-man Bolivia with controversial penalty

QUITO, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Ecuador beat Bolivia 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday helped by an early sending-off for their opponents and a controversial penalty at the start of the second half.

The visitors also had coach Erwin Sanchez ordered from the touchline for protesting the penalty decision.

Ecuador, who have qualified for the last two World Cups, have eight points from seven games in the South American group while Bolivia have four.

Bolivia midfielder Alejandro Gomez was dismissed after committing two bookable offences in only 18 minutes and Ecuador went ahead two minutes later with a well-taken goal by Felipe Caicedo.

The visitors stunned Ecuador five minutes before halftime when forward Joaquin Botero broke clear to score the equaliser.

Ecuador regained the lead five minutes into the second half when Edison Mendez converted a penalty after Christian Benitez was judged to have been fouled in what seemed a harsh decision on the Bolivia defence.

Benitez scored the third in the 72nd minute when he latched on to a long pass forward, sped past goalkeeper Carlos Arias and tapped the ball into the net.

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Buenos Aires; Editing by Ed Osmond)