But it could have been so different, because of an incident halfway through the qualifying campaign.
It's a story that ought to make Hollywood producers sit up and take note.
Gomez was sitting in a restaurant when he was shot and beaten with the butt of a gun.
The attack was said to be revenge for a former president of Ecuador whose son had been dropped from the under-20 team.
Gomez survived, but went home to Colombia, vowing never to return.
The people of Ecuador, though, had other ideas.
A song was written in his honour, there were public demonstrations, and eventually Gomez decided to see the job through.
Andreas Cantor, a football commentator for Telemundo says Gomez is a national hero.
"He is a very good coach, very knowledgeable about the game.
"I was surprised that he came back after almost being killed but he knew that Ecuador had a fair chance to qualify for the first time.
"He wanted to be part of history and not stay at home and have someone else take all the glory".