Ecuador overcame Italy 1-0 in extra time to grab third spot at the FIFA under-20 World Cup on Friday evening.
Six changes from Italy saw Marco Carnesecchi, Antonio Candela, Domenico Alberico, Enrico Del Prato, Christian Capone and Gabriele Gori coming in, with Jose Alcivar the only change for Ecuador.
Following a tentative opening, the Italians missed a decent chance before 20 minutes when Sebastian Esposito flashed wide of target.
Ecuador shot-stopper Moises Ramirez displayed a class act after 38 minutes when he plucked out Enrico Del Prato's curler from outside the box.
Italy struggled early in the second half, with Leonardo Campana hitting the post from the left-attacking area as the South Americans edged closer to an opening goal.
Couple of minutes later, Carnesecchi kept the Italians in the contest with a one-handed palm of Diego Palacios's effort.
With 61 minutes played, El Tricolori made the first change in Richard Mina who replaced Jairo Espinoza Izquierdo. The young Italians responded with a double switch a minute later in Andrea Colpani and Marco Olivieri who replaced Gori and Esposito.
Both sides continued searching for the opener late on, but came unstuck with woeful finishing as the match went to extra time.
Italy were given a penalty after 93 minutes following a foul on Marco Olivieri, who failed to finish off the 12-yards set-play.
Sorrow for one turned to joy for the other, as Mina tapped home on 104 minutes from a free-kick at the far post.
The Italians looked for an instant response, but the Ecuadorians pulled back all the numbers in defence to seal off the win and third place.