These are the qualifications Ecuador’s players deserve after losing 1-0 in their U-20 World Cup opener against the United States.
Ecuador lost 1–0 against the United States in the first game of the Under-20 World Cup. These are the voices of the tricolor.
- Attentive and well placed to ward off danger. It is striking that he shows a good level despite the fact that he has never been a starter with Emelec. He had a flagrant error: On 58, one of his clearances tipped the ball to García. Fortunately, the opponent missed that gift from the Tricolor goalkeeper. He could not do anything on the American goal.
- He struggled in certain passages of the match, especially when his back was injured. He could have done more to prevent the United States from aiming.
- A wall behind. He did not fail in the aerial game, nor was it when he had to go to the side and cut the opponent’s game. He didn’t have big opportunities to show off his offensive pitching.
- He worked well with Garcia and reacted when necessary to defend in small spaces. He fought till the end.
- He was decent in defence, but didn’t contribute much in attack. More was expected from this winger who barely posed any threat.
- Best of all, it was his vision to make successful transitions up front that gave the team dynamism, especially Nilsson Angulo.
- Sebastian Gonzalez, 4/10
It was a far cry from the dynamism that is usually seen in the league. For this reason, in general, Ecuador was not strong in attack, although they had the ball.
- He showed some flashes of his amazing footwork, but overall looked uncomfortable as Hook, especially since he failed to activate Justin Cuerto. He must have retired tired at the age of 73.
- He could hardly win the balls coming to him as a centre. He should have left at 73, as it was clear that he was not in the afternoon.
- He has the pace to take advantage of his dives, but hasn’t got the chance to show it. He coped a bit. Most of the scoring action of the first half was on his feet, but he preferred passes than shots on goal.
- He was the team’s most flamboyant player, but he could not successfully solve attacking plays. He was always a second late, probably because the dynamics of the team forced him to think more before making a pass. But it’s a crackdown, no doubt about it.
- He failed to give the team the strength in attack that was needed to beat a very solid team in the back like the United States. In the end there was not a single shot on goal. The parties failed him. The changes were wise to increase the offensive force. But he lacked accuracy and in the end, blinking cost him points.
