The Ecuadorian soccer team, led by Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro, was unable to beat his pair from Peru, led by Ricardo Gareca, with whom he tied last night 1-1 as a visitor, in the match that closed the date 16 of the South American qualifying round heading to World Cup Qatar 2022.
With this result recorded at the National Stadium in Lima, the Ecuadorian team continues to hold third place in the table, with 25 units, behind the already qualified Brazil (39) and Argentina (35).
For its part, the Peruvian cast accumulates 21 units and remains in the playoff zone, in fifth place.
Striker Michael Estrada (Pt. 2m.) opened the account for Rafael Alfaro’s team, who during the first half was firmer and more solid, justifying the victory.
Midfielder Edison Flores (St. 24m.), the hero of last Thursday’s victory in Barranquilla against Colombia (1-0), established equality midway through the second half, when the visiting team had already wasted -at least- three chances to increase the numbers.
Just at the start, a long ball from Félix Torres surprised Callens and left the attacker Estrada, who defined Gallese face to face, with a subtle touch.
In the second period, the local cast of ‘Tigre’ Gareca started confused and nervous, making mistakes in defense and exposing themselves to a second Ecuadorian conquest that did not come by a miracle.
A shot by Carlos Gruezo (2m.) that chipped the horizontal and a cross shot by Plata (7m.) that went just wide marked that Ecuador continued to exercise strategic and territorial control of the game.
However, at 24m., a good overflow from the Boca Juniors winger, Luis Advíncula, found Flores’ head in the middle of the area, who beat the nationalized Hernán Galíndez (former Rosario Central) and decreed the 1-1.
From there, Ecuador felt the impact and clearly ceded the initiative to a Peru that, based on drive, heart and strong leg (sometimes), continued to charge over the opponent’s fence.
The visiting team, beyond some offensive incursion on the left by Pervis Estupiñán, looked with satisfaction at the result and preferred to keep it.
Ecuador will play next March, for the 17th. Date, as a visitor against the eliminated Paraguay, of the twin Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
While Peru, in fifth place, will visit Montevideo in a key duel against Uruguay (22), which today is qualifying and accessing the final phase of Qatar 2022.
