Argentina's Otamendi and Ecuador's Caicedo are sent off, Enner Valencia's goal helps Ecuador to secure victory.
2026 World Cup qualification South America
1-0
Match Report
With a penalty goal from Enner Valencia, Ecuador defeated Argentina 1-0 on Tuesday in a match between teams already qualified for the World Cup, with Lionel Messi absent, to close out the qualifying round on a positive note that could relieve pressure on the criticized coach Sebastián Beccacece.
The home team dominated the start of the match in Guayaquil intensely, but they didn't manage to score until the 13th added minute of the first half, after a strong foul by Nicolás Otamendi on Ángelo Preciado, sanctioned as a penalty that was converted into a goal by the historic Valencia forward, who at 35 years old said goodbye to the qualifiers.
Otamendi was sent off by the world champion and leader of the qualifiers. But the numerical superiority of the home team faded at the 50th minute, when Moisés Caicedo received his second yellow card.
From the first minute, Ecuador launched an attack with a dynamic and high-pressure game. Players like Nilson Angulo and Pedro Vite created danger all along the attacking front, while midfielder Caicedo became a leader in midfield until he received a red card.
After that, Argentina advanced, controlled the ball, and took the game into the Ecuadorian half, cornering them against their own goal. The introduction of Julián Álvarez and Franco Mastantuono gave the visiting team a different rhythm, but they failed to find the goal in a match where, having nothing to gain or lose, coach Lionel Scaloni did not risk anything.
In any case, Argentina finished the qualifying round as the clear leader with 38 points, nine points ahead of the Ecuadorians, who provisionally placed second.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
5' Lautaro's header is high over the bar
12' Plata's goal is canceled due to offside
14' Angulo cuts in and takes a low shot but it is saved by Martinez
31' Red Card! Otamendi is sent off for pushing down his opponent from behind
45' Yellow Card! Preciado is booked for his harsh tackling
45'+13' Valencia sends the penalty into the middle of the goal! Ecuador 1-0 Argentina
50' Caicedo commits a bad foul, receives his second yellow card and is sent-off!
63' Paredes and Lautaro are replaced by Julian Alvarez and Mastantuono
65' Tagliafico is booked yellow for a heavy challenge
70' Lo Celso's shot takes a deflection off the defender and goes wide
80' Leonardo Balerdi is booked yellow for his harsh tackle
Line-ups
Ecuador XI: Hernán Galíndez, Enner Valencia, Alan Franco, Angelo Preciado, Gonzalo Plata, Hincapie, Pedro Vite, Pacho, Caicedo, Joel Ordóñez, Nilson Angulo
Subs: Cristian Ramírez, Gonzalo Valle, Moisés Ramírez, Félix Torres, John Yeboah, Jordy Alcívar, Campana, Alan Minda, Kevin Rodríguez, Yaimar Medina, Kendry Páez, Denil Castillo
Argentina XI: Otamendi, E. Martinez, Tagliafico, Paredes, De Paul, Lautaro, Gonzalo Montiel, N. Gonzalez, Mac Allister, Balerdi, Giuliano Simeone
Subs: Gerónimo Rulli, Acuna, Walter Benítez, Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Molina, Foyth, Alvarez, Alan Varela, José Manuel López, Nico Paz, Franco Mastantuono