La Tri had started the brighter and the attacker could have given his team the lead early in the first half, but he sent his effort just wide of Noel Valladares's left-hand post.
Honduras nearly edged in front themselves midway through the half when Victor Bernandez found himself unmarked in the penalty area, but his header was off-target.
Los Catrachos did open the scoring just after the half-hour mark when Valladares went route one and, after evading the attempts of the Ecuadorians to clear, saw the ball fall into the path of Carlo Costly. The veteran calmly slotted his opportunity past a helpless Alexander Dominguez.
However, their lead was to last only a matter of moments when Juan Carlos Paredes hit a dangerous ball across the face of goal, which Brayan Beckeles failed to deal with and Valencia took advantage to equalise.
Honduras thought that they had retaken the lead on the stroke of half time when Costly's header hit the post and rebounded off Jerry Bengston into the Ecuador net, but the goal was ruled out for offside against Bengston.
The Central Americans looked for a second goal after the interval, but were dealt a hammer blow midway through the second period when Walter Ayovi's delivery into the box found Valencia, who coolly gave his side the lead.
Maynor Figueroa had Honduras's best chance of a late equaliser when his speculative effort from range was only inches away from finding the net.
In the end, Ecuador held on for victory and, if they can beat France next week, the South Americans may be able to pip Switzerland to qualification.
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