Alexis Sanchez admitted he is 'always playing happy' for his country Chile in what could be perceived as a dig at Manchester United after overcoming a twisted ankle to score their Copa America winner against Ecuador.

Playing in pain after getting hurt in the first half, Sanchez scored a second-half winner to give Chile a 2-1 victory and a spot in the last eight of the South American competition on Friday.

Sanchez stayed in the game after taking pain pills and scored in the 51st minute at the Arena Fonte Nova, securing the two-time defending champions a place in the knockout stage.

Alexis Sanchez scored Chile's winner against Ecuador to take them into the quarter-finals

The Manchester United winger had earlier twisted his ankle but stayed on to score the winner

Sanchez celebrates with team-mate Arturo Vidal as they beat Ecuador at the Copa America

'I twisted my ankle. I kept playing for the love I have for this national team,' he said. 'When I play for my country, I'm always playing happy.'

Sanchez found the far corner with a clever first time shot over Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez after a cross by Charles Aranguiz.

It was the second goal of the tournament for the Chilean forward, who was coming off a difficult season with Manchester United and recovered from another ankle injury - on the right leg - just in time for the Copa America.

Sanchez, who earns around £500,000-a-week at Old Trafford, scored just twice in 27 matches for United during another injury-plagued campaign.

'Fortunately it wasn't the same ankle he injured with Manchester United,' said Chile coach Reinaldo Rueda, adding that team doctors considered the 30-year-old Sanchez could continue playing on Friday after undergoing ice treatment.

'He is motivated when he is with the national team.

'It's not easy to explain, but Alexis has come here and shown a lot of commitment and perhaps in Manchester he does not have the emotional bond he has with his team mates here, that affection.

'He's had bad fortune because Manchester United have had problems for a while, so he does not have the structure he has here. He has also had injuries, he's lacked consistency, he has lacked continuity.'

Chile's players celebrate their passage into the knockout stages following the final whistle

But there was dejection for the Ecuador team following their defeat in Salvador, Brazil

Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (right) celebrates scoring the opening goal for Chile on Friday night

Ecuador equalised when Enner Valencia scored from the penalty spot in the 26th minute

MATCH FACTS Ecuador: Dominguez, Velasco, Arboleda, Achilier, Ramirez, Mendez (Antonio Valencia 60), Orejuela, Gruezo, Mena (Preciado 82), Enner Valencia, Romario Ibarra (Garces 69) Substitutes Not Used: Banguera, Ortiz, Mina, Arreaga,Caicedo, Intriago, Chicaiza Scorer: Enner Valencia 25 pen Sent Off: Achilier 90 Booked: Mendez, Mena, Arboleda, Gruezo, Velasco Chile: Arias, Isla, Medel, Maripan, Beausejour,Aranguiz, Pulgar, Vidal (Jara 90), Fuenzalida (Diaz 70), Vargas (Hernandez 86), Sanchez Substitutes Not Used: Cortes, Urra, Lichnovsky, Castillo, Valdes, Pavez, Fernandes, Opazo, Sagal Scorers: Fuenzalida 8; Sanchez 51 Booked: Arias, Beausejour, Isla, Vidal Advertisement

It was Sanchez's 43rd goal with Chile, who are seeking their third straight Copa title a year after not making it to the World Cup in Russia.

Jose Pedro Fuenzalida put Chile ahead with a strike in the eighth minute and Enner Valencia equalized for Ecuador from the penalty spot in the 26th.

Ecuador played the final minutes with a man down after defender Gabriel Achilier was sent off for elbowing Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal.

The victory gave Chile the lead in Group C with six points, two more than second-place Uruguay, which on Thursday drew 2-2 with Japan. The Japanese squad has one point and Ecuador stayed with zero.

The top two teams in each of the three groups advance, along with the best two third-place finishers.

The Chilean win guaranteed Uruguay will finish at least third in the group.

In the last round on Monday, Chile face Uruguay at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, while Ecuador take on Japan at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte.

Chile had opened with a 4-0 rout of Japan, while Ecuador lost by the same score to Uruguay.

Ecuador's players celebrate Valencia's equalising goal during their match with Chile

Referee Patricio Loustau shows the red card to Ecuador's Gabriel Achilier on Friday night