Copa America 2020 Group D: Ecuador Advance to Quarters Despite Loss to Uruguay

The following article provides an oversight for matches and tournaments taking place in 2020.

Ecuador Advance to Quarters Despite Loss to Uruguay

June 30, 2020

Uruguay 2 Ecuador 1

 

Ecuador claimed second place in Group D, despite losing their final Group D encounter against Uruguay.

 

Jose Giménez’s late injury set back the Uruguayans, though the Ecuadorians held their same starting eleven.

 

Ángel Mena had the first real shot in the 29th minute after both sides could find no way to a dangerous spot without being picked off by the defence. Mena’s ping was a diving header with a low chance of scoring. The scored remained 0-0.

 

Enner Valencia then found Mena with a through ball, only for the striker to miss to the right of goal.

 

Down the Uruguayan end, Edinson Cavani had his shot blocked, as did the resulting Giorgian De Arrascaeta header off the corner.

 

The final minutes of the first half saw end-to-end football, with not enough penetratable runs.

 

After the break, Luiz Suárez nearly had a goal, only to be blocked by the goalkeeper. From the corner, Suárez set up the header of defender Diego Godín, who made sure to score the opening goal.

 

Edinson Cavani scored in the similar fashion to double the lead, with Suárez again on top of his crossing game.

 

Martin Cáceres tried in vain for a third goal, only to not capitalise on a half chance. Still, Uruguay maintained their dominance across the park, and gave Ecuador nothing.

 

That was until substitute Damian Díaz scored, the veteran sneaking the ball under Muslera.

 

Cavani had a half chance at the other end to put the match beyond doubt, needing a save. Cáceres missed from outside the box. De Arrascaeta also had a chance, but it mattered little as Uruguay came off 2-1 winners.

 

Costa Rica 0 Honduras 0

 

Costa Rica altered their back four, swapping three players. A win would give them a slim hope of progressing, while an unchanged Honduras side played for pride.

 

Bonieck Garcia had the first real shot of the match, hitting the top of the crossbar before the ball flew out of play.

 

Arel Lassiter also had a chance but muffed his header over the goals. Joel Campbell also missed to the right of goal with his head.

 

Garcia had his shot blocked, going out for a corner. Down the Costa Rican end, David Guzmán had a ping, only to fly to straight to the goalkeeper. Adrian Martínez also fired straight at the goalkeeper instead of chipping.

 

After the break, Rommel Quioto hit the woodwork, nearly breaking the deadlock. Celso Borges should have also, only for the Honduran goalkeeper to save the day.

 

Mayron George Clayton then tried from long range with fifteen minutes left in the match, but to no avail. For Honduras, Alexander López almost scored at the death, only to not overcome the goalkeeper twice. In the end, a scoreless draw ensued.

 

Uruguay will now tackle Chile in the Quarter Finals, while Ecuador faces the likes of Argentina.

 

	Group D	Pl	W	D	L	Pts	GD
1	Uruguay	3	3	0	0	9	+5
2	Ecuador	3	1	1	1	4	0
3	Costa Rica	3	0	2	1	2	-2
4	Honduras	3	0	1	2	1	-3