On Tuesday night Ecuador host Colombia in what could be a key game in South American qualifying for the next year’s World Cup.
Just one point separate the two teams in the group, with the home side currently fifth in the group and the visitors fourth. Only the top four automatically qualify for the World Cup, as the team that finishes fifth in the group faces an intercontinental play-off.
Ecuador were third in the group prior to the last round of games when Gustavo Quinteros’ team suffered a 2-1 defeat in Paraguay. The defeat means that Ecuador have now lost two of their last three qualifiers.
However, both those defeats came in away games, but Quinteros’ team have suffered just one defeat in their last 14 games on home soil in qualifiers and that was against Brazil. A record of 11 wins in those aforementioned 14 games is a very strong one.
One negative for Ecuador is that boss Quinteros has faced Colombia three times in his managerial career and suffered defeat in all those meetings, so the Bolivian boss will need a change of personal fortune in this clash to gain a victory.
Colombia have endured a mixed qualification campaign so far. Prior to a 1-0 win over Bolivia, Jose Pekerman’s team had failed to win in their last three games. However, that win last time out saw them leapfrog Tuesday’s opponents and also South American champions Chile in the group.
The visitors have a mixed away record in qualifiers but have won just three of their last ten away games in qualifying. Colombia do however have a very good recent record against Tuesday’s opponents, having won four of the last five clashes between the pair.
In fact, Colombia have won eight of the last 12 meetings with Ecuador, so history is on the side of an away win in this clash. However, Ecuador’s recent home form in qualifiers could just be enough to see a home win in this tight clash.