Enner Valencia’s goal secured a 1-0 victory for Ecuador against Argentina in a dramatic World Cup qualifier. The match saw two red cards and highlighted Argentina’s struggles in Lionel Messi’s absence, as Ecuador capitalized on their chances.
In a thrilling World Cup qualifying match filled with drama and intensity, Ecuador emerged victorious against reigning world champions Argentina with a 1-0 win. The match, held at the Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha, saw Enner Valencia celebrate his 100th international appearance in style, scoring the decisive goal that secured the victory for his nation.
Both Ecuador and Argentina had already secured their places in the upcoming World Cup, but the match was far from a friendly affair. From the onset, both teams displayed a fierce competitive spirit, resulting in a hard-fought contest marked by contentious moments and high stakes.
Valencia initially believed he had given Ecuador an early advantage by slotting the ball past Emiliano Martinez. However, his celebrations were cut short when the goal was disallowed due to an offside call against the Ecuador captain. The decision sparked debate among fans and pundits, setting the tone for a match filled with controversial moments.
Argentina's challenge was compounded in the 31st minute when Nicolas Otamendi was shown a red card for a tangle with Valencia, who was racing towards goal. The dismissal reduced Argentina to 10 men and shifted the balance of the match in Ecuador's favor, giving them a numerical advantage to exploit.
Ecuador capitalized on their man advantage deep into first-half stoppage time. A VAR review determined that Nicolas Tagliafico had handled the ball in the box while challenging Angelo Preciado, leading to the awarding of a penalty. Valencia stepped up to take the spot-kick and calmly slotted the ball home, marking his milestone appearance with a crucial goal that put Ecuador ahead.
The drama continued after the break when Moises Caicedo, who was already on a yellow card, was given his marching orders for a late challenge on Nico Gonzalez. The sending off leveled the playing field, reducing both teams to 10 players and setting the stage for a tense final stretch.
Ecuador had an opportunity to extend their lead late in the game, but Martinez denied Kevin Rodriguez with a fine one-on-one save, keeping Argentina's hopes alive. Despite Argentina's late pressure, Ecuador held on to secure a morale-boosting victory under the guidance of Sebastian Beccacece.
Data Debrief: Argentina's struggles without Messi
The match highlighted Argentina's reliance on Lionel Messi, who was absent after suggesting he might skip the upcoming World Cup. In his absence, Argentina struggled to create clear-cut chances, registering an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.34 from their eight shots, none of which hit the target. In contrast, Ecuador's xG was 1.81 from their 11 attempts.
Messi's impact on Argentina's qualifying campaign was undeniable. Despite playing only 12 of Argentina's 18 qualifying matches, he finished as the top scorer with eight goals. This achievement marked the first time Messi has topped the goalscoring charts in his illustrious international career, underscoring his importance to the team.
However, the tally of eight goals was the lowest for a top scorer in South American qualifying since the current format was introduced in 1996, highlighting the competitive nature of the qualifiers and the challenges faced by all teams.