Ecuador's Sarmiento ends drought, Valencia extends scoring streak in Europe

Ecuadorian footballers Jeremy Sarmiento and Anthony Valencia both found the back of the net on Saturday, August 22, 2026, marking a successful day for Ecuadorian talent abroad.

Sarmiento scored the opening goal for Middlesbrough against Blackburn Rovers in the English Championship. The strike ended a scoring drought of over a year for the young forward, whose last official goal came in April 2025 while playing for Burnley. Despite Sarmiento's early goal, Middlesbrough ultimately lost the match 2-1.

Meanwhile, in Belgium, Anthony Valencia continued his impressive run of form for Royal Antwerp. He netted the opening goal against Genk, marking his third goal in his first three matches of the season. Valencia's goal came after a defensive error by the opposing team, which he capitalized on with a precise finish.

Valencia's current form is particularly significant given the injury struggles that have hampered his previous seasons. A severe knee ligament rupture in 2025 kept him sidelined for over 200 days. His current scoring streak highlights a strong return to form and consistency for the Ecuadorian attacker.

Both players' goals underscore their individual contributions to their clubs, with Sarmiento seeking to regain momentum in England and Valencia solidifying his role as a key attacking player in Belgium.