Looking to end a winless streak, Ecuador will return to action on Wednesday in Goiânia to face a resurgent Peru who are chasing a CONMEBOL Copa America 2021 quarterfinals spot following a win against Colombia.
Hosts Brazil is the only team to have booked their spot in the next round with six points in Group B. All of the other teams could still find themselves elminated in fifth spot as the group stage reaches it's penultimate round of fixtures.
Ecuador began their tournament with a 1-0 loss to Colombia before drawing 2-2 with Venezuela. This leaves them in last place with 2 games remaining; a win against Peru is hugely important for la tri.
Peru picked up a huge 2-1 win against Colombia in the last round to bounce back from a 4-0 loss to Brazil in their opener.
Boss Ricardo Gareca will look to the combination of Gianluca Lapadula and Sergio Peña, who will play just in behind, to provide the goals in the absence of Paolo Guerrero.
-Details-
Stadium: Olímpico de Goiânia
Time: 18:00 local - 21:00 GMT
Referee: Jesús Gil Manza (ESP)
-History-
- Ecuador has not beaten Peru in their last five meetings (1 draw, 4 losses). Prior to this run, they had not lost in 11 games (7 wins, 4 draws).
- Three of the four wins Gustavo Alfaro has achieved as manager of Ecuador have come at home. His only away win came in Bolivia in qualifiers. He will look to achieve his first victory on nuetral ground against Peru (1 draw, 1 win).
- Peru is the only nation to have qualified from the group stage at every Copa America since 1997. Argentina has also progressed on every Copa America they played since this date, but did not participate in the 2001 Copa America.
- Ecuadorian Gonzalo Plata is the first player born in the twenty-first century to score at the Copa America.
- Peru's central midfielders Renato Tapia (10.5) and Yosimar Yotún (9) are both in the top three for average ball recoveries per game at this year's CONMEBOL Copa América. Paraguayan Junior Alonso leads with 11 per game while Ecuadorian Pervis Estupiñán also has 9.
