Tough team Ecuador (0-0-1, 1 point) will take on current Group B leaders Peru (1-0-0, 3 points) at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on June 8, Wednesday as the 2016 Copa América Centenario group stage competitions continue.
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Ecuador was coming off a sorry 0-0 draw with Brazil in their tournament opener last Saturday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Goal reported.
Head coach Gustavo Quinteros’ boys would have won the contest if not for a disallowed goal that kept the count deadlocked until the end.
Grêmio striker Miller Bolaños was able to put the ball through Brazil keeper Allison’s net moments after the hour mark of the match coming from the byline, but the referee ruled it out of bounds, thus the goal was not counted and the game remained tied.
The Brazilians controlled the ball in much of the game, but La Tricolor were effective in their counter-attack, which kept Verde-Amarela at bay in the high-octane encounter.
Midfielder Philippe Coutinho had the best opportunity in the match right at the sixth minute with a short-range slap, but Ecuador goal tender Esteban Dreer was somehow able to deny the shot.
Meanwhile, Peru pulled off a tough 1-0 victory over lowly team Haiti last Saturday at the CenturyLink Field in Seattle to temporarily climb at the top spot of the group standings after the first matchday, as per ESPN.
Team captain Paolo Guerrero scored the winning goal of the contest for FIFA’s 48th-ranked squad at the 61st minute off an assist by fellow striker Edison Flores.
The win proved that La Blanquirroja is still a force to be reckoned with even with the absence of some of their veteran players, namely Claudio Pizzaro, Jefferson Farfan, and Juan Manuel Vargas, as all of them were not called in the roster of manager Ricardo Gareca this summer.
However, this game against world no. 13 Ecuador expected to be much harder as Los Amarillos are favored to win against them.
The predicted result is a tough 2-1 decision for Ecuador.
Ecuador starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Dreer; Paredes, Mina, Achilier, Ayovi; Noboa, Gruezo; A. Valencia, Bolaños, Montero; E. Valencia
Peru starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Gallese; Revoredo, Ramos, Rodriguez, Trauco; Tapia, Vilchez; Hohberg, Cueva, Flores; Guerrero
