Uruguaydirected by Marcelo Bielsaconfirmed this Tuesday his bad moment by drawing 0-0 with Ecuador in Montevideo on the tenth date of the South American Qualifiers to the World Cup 2026.
With this result, La Celeste retains third position, with 16 points, despite the fact that it has not won in four games in the World Cup, behind Argentina and Colombia, and Ecuador is placed in fifth, with 13.
The first minutes of the match were clearly favorable to the visitors, who with tight touches and speed in attack managed to repeatedly reach danger through Pervis Estupiñán, the endless Enner Valencia and Alan Minda.
We had to wait 10 minutes for Uruguay to react based on two geniuses from Federico Valverde, first changing front to enable Darwin Núñez and, a minute later, with a free kick.
On both occasions Hernán Galíndez saved his goal, on the second flying towards his left post to deflect a shot that went into the corner into the corner.
At around 24, the Real Madrid midfielder was once again on the verge of scoring his goal with a violent shot that the Ecuadorian goalkeeper once again conjured.
With Valverde managing the midfield and the overflows of Facundo Pellistri and Maximiliano Araújo, the Celeste marked its superiority.
At 32, a half turn by Núñez in the area after a very good combination started by Valverde culminated with his shot hitting the post when Galíndez was already defeated.
Ecuador reacted in the 40th with a shot by Minda that led to a great save by Sergio Rochet, but the initial half ended with favorable sensations for those led by Bielsa, who seemed set to change the pace compared to their last presentations.
The final touch was missing. However, it never arrived. And patience was beginning to run out.
For the second half, the entry of Nicolás de la Cruz for Giorgian de Arrascaeta aimed to give Uruguay greater dynamics in attack.
However, the selection trained by Sebastian Beccacecevery active shouting instructions to his team, grouped well in defense and neutralized the locals.
The second half was very different from the first. Valverde declined, Pellistri was nullified by Estupiñán and although De la Cruz entered on the right foot, he was unable to weigh enough or infect the rest.
Ecuador leaned more on its defense and imposed a tiring and choppy rhythm that the locals never knew how to break.
Bielsa took a while to move the squad. He waited for 86 minutes to make two changes, both forced, due to injury. Without any result.
The Uruguayans withdrew amid whistles from a crowd that barely filled half of the Centenario Stadium, disillusioned with a team that is far from being the same one that clearly defeated Brazil and Argentina in 2023 at the beginning of the long race towards the 2026 World Cup.
In the last four games, Uruguay did not score a single goal, with three draws (two at home) and one defeat against last-place Peru.
And the (very) brave ones are coming: Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia at the height… With Bielsa on the bench?
Synthesis Uruguay vs Ecuador for South American Qualifiers
Source: Ambito
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