Ecuador show real heart and commitment to battle back and come behind against unbeaten Brazil to secure qualification from Goup B at the CONMEBOL Copa América 2021.
Éder Militão gave Brazil the lead in the first half before Ángel Mena fired a second half equalizer to give Ecuador the point they needed.
With this result, as well as Peru's win against Venezuela, Ecuador finish in fourth place to qualify with three draws and a loss.
Brazil had won every game before tonight's draw and comfortably progress in first place. Peru move up into second and Colombia drop down to third without playing on the final day.
Brazil came closest to opening the scoring early but Gabriel Barbosa was denied by Ecuador keeper Hernán Galíndez.
On 36 minutes Everton Cebolinha whiped in a freekick from the right and Éder Militão leapt highest to give Brazil an early 1-0 lead.
[embed]https://twitter.com/CopaAmerica/status/1409267120261709831[/embed]
Ecuador came out hungry for the second half and they very quickly pulled themselves level in the game.
On 53 minutes a corner was sent into the Brazilian box. They managed to get it away but it was headed back towards goal and eventually broke to Mena who calmly applied the finish. A little scrappy in the build up but Ecuador had the goal they needed.
[embed]https://twitter.com/CopaAmerica/status/1409275539110641669[/embed]
Brazil came back and applied pressure. Vinicius Jr. had a huge chance to restore the lead from a Paquetá cross but the Real Madrid winger failed to find the target.
Venezuela were behind against Peru which meant a draw would be enough for Ecuador. La Tri got men behind the ball and were able to see out the result to qualify for the quarterfinal.
They will now wait until the conclusion of Group B on Monday to find out who they play next.
On 53 minutes a corner was sent into the Brazilian box. They managed to get it away but it was headed back towards goal and eventually broke to Mena who calmly applied the finish. A little scrappy in the build up but Ecuador had the goal they needed.
[embed]https://twitter.com/CopaAmerica/status/1409275539110641669[/embed]
Brazil came back and applied pressure. Vinicius Jr. had a huge chance to restore the lead from a Paquetá cross but the Real Madrid winger failed to find the target.
Venezuela were behind against Peru which meant a draw would be enough for Ecuador. La Tri got men behind the ball and were able to see out the result to qualify for the quarterfinal.
They will now wait until the conclusion of Group B on Monday to find out who they play next.
NUMBERS FROM THE GAME
- This is the first time Ecuador have drawn 3 games at the Copa America. They scored in all 3 of thier draws in the competition (2-2 against Venezuela and Peru, 1-1 against Brazil).
- Brazil scored in a CONMEBOL Copa América game and failed to win for the first time since their 1-1 draw and elimination against Paraguay (8 wins). Brazil failed to score in the three draws and one during this period.
- Ecuador is the third team to have drawn against Brazil having gone in at halftime behind since Tite took charge (Colombia in 2017 and Switzerland in 2018). Brazil finished winners in the other 24 games they lead at half time.
- Ecuador brought an end to Brazil's run of 10 consecutive wins in all competitions and 5 consecutive Copa Ameria wins.
- Brazil is the only team to score more than one headed goal at the 2021 Copa America. Éder Militão's opener was the third goal in a row scored with the head.
- Ángel Mena is the second substitute to score for Ecuador at the Copa América 2021, the other was Gonzalo Plata. BrazilDATA: OPTA
