The loss was particularly worrying for the South Americans because of an injury to goalscorer Carlos Tenorio and a nerve-riddled performance from keeper Edwin Villafuerte.

Tenorio put Ecuador ahead with a fine solo goal in the 19th minute, but Macedonia were gifted an equaliser when Villafuerte fumbled a cross and allowed striker Goran Maznov to poke the ball home on the half hour.

The Ecuador striker was carried off on a stretcher with a leg injury midway through the second half and Macedonia grabbed the victory eight minutes later when defender Igor Mitreski blasted home from the penalty spot after Aco Stoikov went down in the area.

Luis Fernando Suarez's side poured forward in the closing minutes, but were denied an equaliser by some brilliant reflex saves from Macedonia keeper Jahe Nikoloski.

Ecuador, who finished third behind Brazil and Argentina in the South American qualifying group, have won just one of their last nine games and this performance will have done little for their morale ahead of their second appearance in a World Cup.

The South Americans have been drawn in Group A together with hosts Germany, Poland and Costa Rica. They open their campaign against the Poles in Gelsenkirchen on June 9.