A hard-fought draw
I was a little frightened to see Néstor “The Fatty” Ortigoza on the field. I hoped he’d tire out quickly in the altitude. But he didn’t. He played with supreme efficiency, pushing the ball into the safest spaces, away from the Ecuadorians. He gave the pass that set up the Paraguayans’ tying goal.
If Ortigoza was efficient, his Ecuadorian counterpart, Christian Noboa, was spectacular.
Noboa hit three hard shots off of the post – one of which Énner Valencia pounced on for the first goal. Then, in the dying minutes, he gave a chip-pass to Ángel Mena for the definitive 2–2.
Should this goal have counted? When it occurred, I thought Mena was offside; but later I saw how well he timed his movement. Here are some screenshots, in reversed order.
This article gives the clearest image.
I believe the goal was licit. In any case, we can applaud the linesman for giving the attacker the benefit of the doubt.
This was but one moment of Ecuadorian brilliance; there were others. Alas, one brilliant player, Jeff Montero, was stonewalled by the defender Bruno Valdez. Only after Valdez’s injury, when Iván Piris came in, did Montero have his way.
On the whole, though, the injuries were worse for Ecuador.
We sorely missed the “Hormiga.” Due to his absence, Antonio Valencia rarely ventured to attack (though when he did, he was a menace).
Miller Bolaños was missed; Felipe Caicedo was missed. Gabo Achilier was on the field, but he shouldn’t have been.
If Ortigoza was efficient, his Ecuadorian counterpart, Christian Noboa, was spectacular.
Noboa hit three hard shots off of the post – one of which Énner Valencia pounced on for the first goal. Then, in the dying minutes, he gave a chip-pass to Ángel Mena for the definitive 2–2.
Should this goal have counted? When it occurred, I thought Mena was offside; but later I saw how well he timed his movement. Here are some screenshots, in reversed order.
This article gives the clearest image.
I believe the goal was licit. In any case, we can applaud the linesman for giving the attacker the benefit of the doubt.
This was but one moment of Ecuadorian brilliance; there were others. Alas, one brilliant player, Jeff Montero, was stonewalled by the defender Bruno Valdez. Only after Valdez’s injury, when Iván Piris came in, did Montero have his way.
On the whole, though, the injuries were worse for Ecuador.
We sorely missed the “Hormiga.” Due to his absence, Antonio Valencia rarely ventured to attack (though when he did, he was a menace).
Miller Bolaños was missed; Felipe Caicedo was missed. Gabo Achilier was on the field, but he shouldn’t have been.
