Ecuador and Uruguay face each other in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at the Casa Blanca Stadium in Quito. The match will take place this Tuesday (12), at 6 pm (Brasília time), with broadcast on Sportv's closed television.
WHERE TO WATCH:
Date and time: Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. (Brasília time)
Local: Casa Blanca Stadium, in Quito, Ecuador
Where to watch: Sportv
The Ecuadorians started the classification with three points less, since the tricolor team received a punishment from FIFA in the middle of last year, due to the country having irregularly fielded the full-back Byron Castillo, since the player did not have Ecuadorian nationality, however, it only became valid from this year onwards.
Ecuador:
Last match: Ecuador faced Argentina in their last match and lost 1-0. Although they suffered a defeat, the team showed defensive solidity against a strong opponent, which should give them confidence for the next match. Striker Enner Valencia is the main weapon of the Ecuadorian attack.
Uruguay:
Last match: Uruguay put in an impressive performance in their last match, beating Chile 3-1. Nicolás de la Cruz was the standout performer, scoring two goals. The victory was achieved without the presence of two of their main strikers, Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, who were not called up by coach Marcelo Bielsa.
KEY POINTS OF THE MATCH:
Uruguayan Offensive Force: Despite the absence of Suarez and Cavani, Uruguay demonstrated their attacking prowess in the last match, with Nicolás de la Cruz shining. The team will look to continue this form and create goal-scoring opportunities.
Ecuadorian Solid Defense: Ecuador showed defensive solidity against Argentina, conceding just one goal. They can look to maintain this defensive solidity and take advantage of any counter-attacking opportunities.
Coach Bielsa: Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa has opted not to include Suarez and Cavani for this game. This puts additional pressure on other players to take on attacking responsibility.
Qualifying Ambitions: Both teams have ambitions of qualifying for the World Cup. Every point gained in the Qualifiers is valuable, and both teams will be looking for a win to strengthen their positions in the league table.
PROBABLE SCALATIONS:
URUGUAY – Rochet; Pumita Rodriguez, Sebastián Cáceres, Viña (Piquerez) and Mathias Olivera; Federico Valverde, Manuel Ugarte and Nicolás de la Cruz; Facundo Pellistri, Maxi Gómez and Darwin Núñez.
Technician: Marcelo Bielsa.
ECUADOR – Galíndez; Torres, Arboleda, Pacho and Hurtado; Cifuentes, Gruezo, Caicedo and Estupiñán; Kevin Rodríguez and Enner Valencia. Technical: Felix Sanchez.
This clash promises to be an interesting one, with Ecuador looking to bounce back from their defeat to Argentina and Uruguay looking to maintain their positive momentum following their win over Chile. The absence of Suarez and Cavani for Uruguay could level the playing field, but the performances of key players such as Nicolás de la Cruz could be key. Football fans can expect a competitive and unpredictable game, with each team looking to claim all three points.
