Ecuador Stuns Argentina 1-0 in World Cup Qualifier
It was a dramatic night in Guayaquil, where Ecuador defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final round of the South American World Cup qualifiers. The match carried a special atmosphere, as both teams had already secured their spots for the 2026 World Cup, but pride and ranking positions were still at stake.
Argentina arrived without their captain and talisman, Lionel Messi, who had left the squad after the victory against Venezuela. That absence was heavily felt. Without Messi’s creativity and leadership, the team looked less dangerous and struggled to find a rhythm in attack. The responsibility fell on younger players like Franco Mastantuono, who wore the iconic number 10, but the spark that usually shifts games in Argentina’s favor simply wasn’t there.
The turning point of the game came early. Around the half-hour mark, Nicolás Otamendi committed a last-man foul on Enner Valencia. The Argentine defender was shown a straight red card, leaving his team to play more than an hour with only ten men. This forced coach Lionel Scaloni to reshuffle his defense and sacrifice attacking options, which made Argentina’s task much more difficult.
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Just before halftime, another decisive moment arrived. After a long review by VAR, a penalty was awarded to Ecuador for a foul inside the box. Enner Valencia, celebrating his 100th international cap, stepped up confidently and sent Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez the wrong way. The ball went straight down the middle, and Ecuador took the lead at 1-0. The stadium erupted, and Argentina’s players left the field at the break visibly frustrated, not only by the score but also by the decisions that had gone against them.
The second half was no less intense. Ecuador started strong, but soon Moisés Caicedo was sent off after a reckless challenge on Nico González. With both sides reduced to ten players, the game opened up, and Argentina pushed harder in search of the equalizer. Lo Celso had a golden chance right after coming on, but his shot was deflected just wide. Later, Julián Álvarez and Mastantuono tried to combine, yet Ecuador’s defense held firm.
Meanwhile, Ecuador threatened on the counterattack. Kevin Rodríguez forced a brilliant save from Dibu Martínez, keeping Argentina alive until the final whistle. Despite dominating possession late on, the Albiceleste never really managed to unsettle goalkeeper Galíndez.
When the referee blew the final whistle, Ecuador celebrated a well-earned victory. This result not only gave them second place in the standings with 29 points, but it also confirmed them as the best defensive side of the qualifiers, conceding only five goals in 18 matches. For Argentina, the defeat hardly changed their overall dominance: they finished top of the group with 38 points and the highest goal tally at 31.
In the end, the absence of Messi and the early red card to Otamendi shaped the night. Ecuador, organized and resilient, took advantage and gave their fans a memorable farewell to the qualifiers. Both teams now turn their focus to preparing for the World Cup in 2026.
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