Share

Ecuador beat Uruguay 2-1 for best start to qualifiers

Neymar was given a four-match suspension after being sent off after the final whistle in their fiery 1-0 group-stage defeat by Colombia at June’s Copa America for kicking the ball at opponent Pablo Armero.

Advertisement

“We met with match officials and the Argentine representatives and there’s no way the game can go on”, Brazil’s assistant coach Gilmar Rinaldi told reporters at the stadium.

Uruguay’s Fernando Muslera picks up a drone that fell on the field during the World Cup Qualifier against Ecuador.

Brazil has never missed a World Cup, and Argentina last missed out in 1970.

Argentina and Brazil’s World Cup qualifying clash was postponed on Thursday after heavy rain made play impossible.

Speaking ahead of Uruguay’s first match against Ecuador, Coates knows his national side face a tough couple of games, against teams who can also boast an unbeaten start to their qualifiers.

Uruguay left Quito with victory in October 2009, a fixture which saw Suarez equalise Antonio Valencia’s opener before Diego Forlan hit a 93rd-minute victor from the spot, but a solitary Jefferson Montero strike was enough for Ecuador to win when the sides’ last met.

The defender, who plies his trade in Mexico, says the match against Uruguay in Quito will be “difficult”. He must sit out one more worldwide match.

Ecuador, like Bolivia who beat Venezuela 4-2 in La Paz, benefit from playing their home games in the rarefied air 3,000 meters up in the Andes.

Rodrigo Ramallo, Juan Arce and Rudy Cardozo Fernandez scored for the home side, while Mario Rondon and Richard Blanco bagged consolation goals for the Venezuelans.

A 1 – 0 win for Ecuador is the mostly likely outcome of the game with William Hill and Bet365 offering odds of 9/2 and 4/1 respectively.

Colombia played at Chile in a late match and Peru and Paraguay were to play Friday.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Ecuador have been impressive as well so far, gaining wins over Argentina and Bolivia, and they are only behind Uruguay only on goal difference.

World Cup qualifier Argentina Brazil Brazil vs Argentina Argentina vs Brazil Colombia james rodriguez rodriguez football qualifiers 2018 world cup qualifiers football results football news football