PASADENA, Calif. – Brazil threatened early and often, but Ecuador showed why it is currently ranked 2nd in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, staying compact, threatening on the counter, and generally giving the Brazilians all they could handle.
Despite putting on a passing clinic, the Seleçao couldn’t finish, and only managed a goalless draw, 0-0, before 53,158 yellow-clad supporters at the Rose Bowl.
Although they worked hard to stay compact, the Ecuadorians did not simply bunker in, pressing forward on the counter often. Miller Bolaños threatened the Brazilian back line all night long. He launched a lovely curler that just missed the upper 90 in the fifth minute.
Bolaños delivered the most important moment of the night in the 66th minute when he appeared to strike gold on a brash shot from the end line that fooled Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson. Alisson got tangled with the post, fumbled the shot, and the ball trickled in. Ecuador’s jubilations was short lived. The assistant referee on the far side raised his flag and ruled that the ball had crossed the end line before Bolaños got the shot away.
Brazil’s attack performed according to its reputation in the first half hour. The Seleçao flowed forward through Coutinho and Willian, and produced several quality chances on goal in the first half hour, but could not find the finishing touch. Brazil dominated in possession, holding the ball for 65% of the match, and their final passing statistics were remarkable: 592 completed passes to Ecuador’s 192.
The best opportunity came in the sixth minute when Willian spun his defender and fired a sharp cross onto the sliding foot of a hard charging Coutinho. But Ecuadorian goalkeeper Esteban Dreer dropped to his knees and deflected the shot over the crossbar to deny the Brazilians.
Brazil found it’s footing late in the match when Lucas’ snap header just missed the inside of the post. Brazil generated a flurry of chances in the final five minutes, as if aware they were letting a seemingly winnable match slip away.
Ultimately however, it was not offense that ruled the day. Both side’s defenses worked hard to shut down entry balls, and the shot totals showed this. The two teams managed only eleven shots on the night, only five on target.
The match was a chippy affair. These two sides know one another quite well, and Brazil is the only team to beat Ecuador so far in World Cup qualifying. It was obvious both teams were taking the match seriously. Chilean referee Julio Bascuñan doled out six yellow cards on the night – one more card than there were shots on goal.
Both teams will resume Group B play on Wednesday, June 8th. Brazil will face Haiti in Orlando, Florida, while Ecuador will square off against arch-enemy Peru in Glendale Arizona.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Willian showed why he’s the best player not named Neymar in the entire nation of Brazil. His pace and skill up the right flank gave the Ecuadorian defense trouble all night, and most of Brazil’s best chances flowed through him.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Ecuador was robbed of a goal in the 66th minute by the assistant referee on the far side of the pitch. Bolaños fired the ball off the end line at the near post and Brazilian GK Alisson fumbled the ball off the post and into the net. Brazil was rescued when the AR raised his flag and signaled that the ball had gone fully out of play. Replays appeared to show it had not.
MATCH TO FORGET
Jonas earned a start ahead of better known strikers like Hulk, but “The Pistol,” as he’s known in Portugal, where he plays his club soccer for Porto, mostly misfired on the night, unable to finish the ample service he was provided by Coutinho and Willian. He was subbed off in the 61st minute.
