In a rematch from the 2021 Copa America quarterfinals, reigning champions Argentina will face Ecuador at Houston’s NRG Stadium on Thursday.
The high-stakes match will decide who advances to the event’s semifinals.
La Albiceleste having dominated Group A with a flawless report, enter the match recent off a snug 2-0 victory over Peru.
Meanwhile, Ecuador secured their place within the quarterfinals by holding Mexico to a tense 0-0 draw, ending as runners-up in Group B.
Argentina’s efficiency on this event’s opening section has been impeccable beneath the steerage of Lionel Scaloni.
They triumphed in all three matches with out conceding a purpose, showcasing their defensive prowess and second-half dominance with all 5 targets scored after halftime.
Remarkably, they haven’t trailed in a Copa America match since their 2019 semifinal loss to Brazil.
Continuing their robust type, Argentina have now received eight consecutive matches throughout varied competitions, conceding solely two targets throughout this spectacular run.
Their current quarterfinal historical past displays their power, breezing by their final three encounters with a commanding 9-1 combination rating.
While their quarterfinal report is basically stellar, Argentina’s lone setback this century got here in 2011 after they hosted the event and fell to Uruguay in a penalty shootout.
However, historical past favors Argentina towards Ecuador in Copa America clashes, having triumphed with a 3-0 victory of their final quarterfinal assembly in 2021.
With their sights set on extending their profitable streak, Argentina, the reigning World Cup champions, intention to advance previous this stage for the fifth consecutive time, sustaining their dominance in South American soccer.
Ecuador, regardless of dealing with strain of their current match, superior to the knockout stage by edging out Mexico on purpose distinction.
This marks La Tri’s second consecutive qualification for the event’s quarterfinals and their presence on this stage for the third time within the final 4 Copa Americas.
Under Felix Sanchez, Ecuador now eye a historic entry into the semifinals, a feat they final achieved in 1993, regardless of setbacks of their earlier three Copa America quarterfinal appearances.
Ecuador have maintained a robust defensive entrance within the event, but their offensive output has been restricted to only one purpose within the first half, coming of their 2-1 defeat to Venezuela.
Their historical past in quarterfinal matches tells of resilience and shut contests, notably in 1997 after they opened the scoring towards Mexico however fell brief in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
Facing Argentina poses a major problem for Ecuador, who’ve struggled in current encounters, successful simply as soon as of their final seven aggressive matches towards them, a 2-0 victory in 2015.
The Lion is again
Ahead of Thursday, Argentine captain Lionel Messi has recovered from hamstring discomfort that sidelined him for his or her closing group stage match.
Messi returned to full coaching on Monday after lacking Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Peru, the place a number of key gamers, together with Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez and Rodrigo De Paul, have been rested by coach Scaloni.
During his absence, Messi underwent kinesiology therapy for a groin/thigh damage sustained throughout their earlier 1-0 win towards Chile on June 25.
The 37-year-old ahead participated in full coaching classes, signaling his readiness to characteristic in Thursday’s match.
Meanwhile, Lautaro Martinez continues to impress in entrance of purpose, scoring in his fourth consecutive match to propel Argentina previous Peru.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has additionally maintained a stellar report with 4 consecutive clear sheets courting again to 2021.
On the Ecuadorian facet, Enner Valencia returned from suspension to play the total 90 minutes of their current group-stage encounter, changing John Yeboah.
Ecuador’s goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez secured his first clear sheet of this 12 months’s Copa America, stopping 4 Mexican pictures of their essential match, marking his first clear sheet with La Tri since March.
Source: www.dailysabah.com