Roundup Matchweek #4
Matchweek 4 showed just how competitive the league is with a high number of draws.
CD Macará 1- CS Emelec 1 (Estadio Bellavista, 11-03-2021)
Matchweek #4 got off to an early start with a match between Macará and Emelec, who will also meet on Tuesday in the Copa Sudamericana first round. The first-half of the match was highly contested in midfield, with both teams attempting to exert their dominance over the midfield. It was Emelec who looked more dangerous in the first-half as they were able to create chances with Romario Caicedo constantly attacking Macará’s left-back Portocarrero and linking up well with the always dangerous Barceló, however the team from Ambato defended well and Jorge Puchetá responded well to any danger to his area. The deadlock was not broken as both teams went into the dressing rooms still 0-0.
The second-half began much the same way as the first, with both teams fighting to set the tempo and control the match. This time; however, Emelec managed to see much more of the ball and in the 64th minute, a clever one-two between Carabalí and Orejuela inside Macará’s penalty area forced a foul from Portocarrero. The referee had no doubts and gave a penalty which was emphatically converted by Facundo Barceló, who scored his 4th goal of the season. 0-1
Macará reacted positively to the goal, constantly looking for Arón Rodríguez who was proving to be a handful against the Emelec defense, he dribbled past the defensive players with ease and as he stepped into the penalty area he was brought down by Sebastián Rodríguez. The referee blew for a foul outside the area much to the disgust of the Macará players who were convinced the foul was inside the box. (It’s unsure as the TV production was not crisp enough to have the correct angle).
Shortly after the controversial call, both managers made substitutions, and Macará brought in Jhon Santacruz, who would only need 6 minutes on the pitch to bring the Sky Blues back level, in controversial fashion. Arón Rodríguez used his tricky feet to dribble past the Emelec defense down the left, he took a touch to bring the ball onto his right foot and produced a teasing cross into the penalty area. Santacruz made a wonderful run to lose his marker and finished the chance with either a diving header or a diving forearm to bring Macará back level. 1-1
The teams worked hard to find a winner, but their energy levels had been drained and the match ended one all.
Deportivo Cuenca 2- LDU (Q) 2 (Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar, 12-03-2021)
In a traditional Friday slot, Deportivo Cuenca hosted 2020 runners-up Liga de Quito in a highly contested match. An orderly Deportivo Cuenca tried to ride out the storm against Liga de Quito who held the majority of the ball early on. However, in one of the first plays of the match, Andrés Chicaiza controlled the ball beautifully and produced a fine long ball into the penalty area, Lucas Mancinelli used his pace to beat Liga de Quito’s defense and looked to be through on goal only to be clattered by an onrushing Erik Viveros. The referee had no doubts and blew his whistle for a penalty kick, the same Mancinelli converted the penalty with a soft penalty to Vivero’s right hand side which the goalkeeper couldn’t stop. 1-0
Repetto’s men dominated possession and tried to be patient in their build-up like they have been all season, but Deportivo Cuenca’s defensive block moved in a very disciplined manner and repelled all possible attacks with Federico Jourdan doubling up in his defensive duties. The first-half ended 1-1.
The second-half was of a similar tone, with Liga de Quito constantly having the ball and trying to cut open the Deportivo Cuenca defense with a wider approach with the introduction of Luis Ayala and a lively Juan Kaprov. It was Kaprov who had a big hand in the equaliser as he forced his way into the penalty area, as he tried to cut back inside the ball hit one of Cuenca’s defenders and the ball popped out to Martínez Borja who was at the right place at the right time finishing a beautiful turning shot into Heras’ left hand corner. 1-1
It looked like there would only be one winner from this match as LDU (Q) tried to break down an orderly defense. However, in the 76th minute Cuenca received a rare corner kick. The ball was swung in beautifully and Brian Cucco met the ball which was parried out by Viveros, after a couple of seconds of pinball in the area the ball fell to Anderson Naula and he finished past the legs of 2 defenders to beat a stranded Erik Viveros. In his celebrations, Naula forgot he had been booked earlier and took his shirt off before being sent-off. 2-1
Liga de Quito were adamant to equalising and they wildly set out to attack. An even more orderly 10-men Deportivo Cuenca repelled their attacks, and when it seemed that the match would finish with a victory for the Reds, Alcivar floated in a beautiful cross onto an unrushing Quinteros who calmly pivoted the ball into the penalty area for Kaprov to score his first goal in the Ecuadorian LigaPro. 2-2
Liga de Quito attempted to score what seemed to be a likely winner but had to conform to a point as the match came to a close.
U.Católica 1 - Técnico Universitario 1 (Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, 13-03-2021)
The match between Católica and Técnico Universitario got off to a shaky start with both teams sloppy in distribution. In the early minutes, Técnico Universitario came close after a misclearance fell to their midfielder who ahot wide.
In spite of holding most of the possession, Católica were unable to produce anything significant. Then in the 17th minute, Católica’s López was out of position and Henry Patta threaded in a beautiful through pass that Congo finished with an outside of the boot finish. 0-1
The match failed to jump into life and Técnico still looked the more dangerous on the counter as they defended tremendously against sterile opposition. In the 36th minute Rizotto was sent off for the visitors for a dubious stamp which was spotted by the 4th ref. With 10 men Técnico defended deeper and went ahead at the break.
The second half started much like the first half ended. Católica played with their starting front-three and Católica dominated possession asTécnico Universitario were very organized in the back. Then in the 56th minute Willian Cevallos mistimed a tackle and was sent-off for Católica. This did not deter the Little Blue Train as they attacked and were awarded a penalty that Alzugaray struck the post with.
Católica huffed and puffed and finally were able to get an equalizer as the newly introduced Carabalí played a beautiful chipped pass to Walter Chalá who took it in his stride on the left hand side of the penalty box, he controlled the ball and raised his head to produce a lofted it into the goalkeeper’s box onto the head of an onrushing Alzugaray who made no mistake to score the equalizer. 1-1
Técnico were forced out to fimd a winner and they nearly managed it with a rocket by Quintero which was brilliantly saved by Hernán Galíndez. In the subsequent corner the ball fell to López who fed in Carabalí who made easy work of his defender and fed in Alzugaray who beat Chávez and the crossbar in what was the last meaninful chance of the match.
Delfín SC 1 - Guayaquil City FC 1 (Estadio Jocay, 13-03-2021)
Delfín hosted Guayaquil City in what proved to be yet another draw in Matchweek 4. The visitors started on the front-foot as they attempted to change their possession into an advantage. In the 11th minute William Vargas was brought down in the penalty area, the referee blew his whistle. Fernando Gaibor stepped up but his poor penalty was saved by Johan Padilla.
Little by little, Delfin got back into the game garnering more possession, but ultimately being unable to win the midfield battle. Then in minute 26, Jostin Alman was fouled in the area and the referee blew his whistle for a penalty kick. Janner Corozo stepped up to take the penalty but his shot was pushed behind the post by Gonzalo Valle. This meant that the teams went into their half-time team talks level.
In the second-half, Delfín began dominating possession as they looked to break the deadlock using their speed and width. A brilliant save by Valle, prevented Delfín from scoring. In the 61st minute, some patient build up play concluded with a very well executed (yet unconventional) one-two where Parrales was set free and made no mistake to fire a low right-footed shot past Padilla. 0-1
Shortly after going behind, the teams refreshed their line-ups with substitutions. Delfín kept on fighting to earn a point while Guayaquil City did their best to defend in a deep line. They seemed to be hanging on for a crucial victory, until the 94th minute when a hopeful long ball was brought down in the area to Rojas who took a heavy touch that was half-cleared by the Guayaquil City defense, but only as far as Cifuentes, who took a first time shot that beat Valle and earned a point for Delfín SC. 1-1
Aucas 3 - Independiente del Valle 4 (Estadio Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda, 13-03-2021)
A reinvigorated Independiente del Valle visited a very entertaining Aucas side in the southern part of the city of Quito. Both teams were looking to earn 3 points that would help them move up on the league table. The match proved to be a goal fest which has characterized this Aucas team this and last season.
In the 11th minute, Fernando Guerrero was brought down in the area and Jacob Murillo stepped up to slot the ball past Johan Lara. 0-1
Both teams shared possession and attempted to play down their strong side. In the 39th minute, Independiente progressed the ball from their own half with Pedro Vite who made an unopposed run and played a one-two with Bryan Montenegro who tapped in the goal past Lara to score Independiente’s second of the evening. 0-2
The goal was a sucker-punch to Aucas who looked deflated upon coneding. However, it would be them who would shorten the scoreline before the break. Tapiero won a ball in midfield with a textbook tackle which popped out to Figueroa, who took one quick touch and shot from about half-field, the ball floated beautifully past Ramírez who was unable to get back in time, to score the goal of the season. 1-2
The second half began as Aucas tried to equalize and a solid Independiente del Valle high-line defended brilliantly. In the 58th minute, Efren Mera got a free-kick just outside the box. Mera took a shot which beat the substitute keeper who was unable to produce a save. 1-3
Six minutes later, disaster would strike for Aucas, who yet again conceded a penalty kick from a shove to the back of Guerrero which was converted by Brian Montenegro to surely wrap up the 3 points for Indpendiente. 1-4
Aucas didn’t give up and they kept on playing their game looking to shorten the distance. Their hard work and perserverance would pay off as a well worked play saw Luis Cano send in a lofted through ball onto an unrushing Jhonny Quiñonez who beat the high-line and galloped down the middle of the pitch to produce a fine finish past Ramírez. 2-4
Aucas kept on looking for another goal and were leaving themselves thin in defense. in the 86th minute, Jhonny Quiñonez forced a mistake from Pacho. The youngster attempted to clear the ball close to his own area but Quiñonez challenged him and won the ball, he then elegantly chipped the ball over an unrushing Ramírez to score Aucas’ third of the night with 4 minutes to play. 3-4
Aucas went all out to find the equalizer but was unable to as the match finished 3-4 in what probably has been the pick of this matchweek’s matches.
Mushuc Runa SC 4- Manta 2 (Estadio Mushuc Runa COAC, 14-03-2021)
Sunday’s matches got off to a flying start with Mushuc Runa hosting Manta in what proved to be a tactical masterclass by Cumbicus who lead his team to an emphatic victory at home.
Mushuc Runa started the half brightly, as they opted for a 4 man defense and a more attacking formation than they have shown previously. Their high possession and their constant threat in the opponent’s final third finally yielded results when in the 32nd minute, the Man of the Match Jonatan Bauman got in behind Manta’s defensive line to nod in a beautiful Koufati cross past a stunned Beder Valencia. 1-0
Their domination turned even sweeter when two minutes later, José Ayoví crossed the ball behind everyone and Bauman was the first to react to recover the ball in the corner of the penalty area and produce a right-footed inside of the foot shot that nestled into the keeper’s top left hand corner. 2-0
Upon returning from the break, Manta looked like a different side. They were able to wrestle possession away from Mushuc Runa and were becoming to step into the opposition’s half much more. Then in the 48th minute, Manta crossed the ball into the far corner, Bustamante controlled the ball with his right foot before being clattered by Marco Carrasco inside the penalty area. The referee blew his whistle and José Angulo confidently stepped up and blasted the ball into the upper right hand-corner. 2-1
Manta were slowly getting back into the game, but as has been the case all season, their defensive frailties cost them tremendously. A mere 5 minutes after scoring, their defense was caught on the back-foot and a long ball onto the left hand wing was collected by Ayoví, who took a touch with his head over the oncoming defender, saw Feraud completely unmarked in the penalty spot and simply fed in a simple pass that the midfielder wonderfully finished with an inside foot shot past Valencia who was once again unable to do anything to stop the goal. 3-1
A couple of minutes later, and with Manta in absolute defensive disarray, Bauman would seal his hattrick. The ball was crossed into the Manta area, and Bustamante inexplicably let the ball roll over his body and lost the ball to José Ayoví, who took a simple touch to Bauman who drilled in a shot on the keeper’s right-hand side, the ball struck the post and diverted into the back of the net. 4-1
Mushuc Runa’s tactical system had done all the work and they calmly defended their lead until the 77th minute when the ball struck Adé in his arm and Cuero was able to score Manta’s second penalty of the night to reduce the Tuna Boat’s deficit. 4-2
9 de Octubre 2- Olmedo 0 (Estadio Alberto Spencer, 14-03-2021)
In one of the least entertaining matches od the season, 9 de Octubre managed to get their first win in the top-flight since 1995.
The team from Guayaquil scored early on in the 6th minute with Danny Luna tapped t in from the left hand side of the area after Becerra had forced a good save out of Cevallos. 1-0
Neither team produced any type of interesting play and they sloppily gave away the ball constantly. After some half-chances shared by the teams, 9 de Octubre would seal the 3 pointa after a cross came into the area and after an awful attempt from Cevallos to clear the ball and a mix-up in defense, the ball fell to Fernandez who simply flicked it into an empty net. 2-0
Barcelona SC 2- Orense 0 (Estadio Monumental, 14-03-2021)
*Ecuador’s Match of the Week
In Ecuador’s match of the week, Barcelona were victorious by a 2-0 scoreline with goals scored by Damián Díaz with a 27th minute penalty and by Carlos Garcés in the 45th minute of the first half.
This match will be discussed in detail on Thursday where a full match report will be presented in either written or video format.