Ecuador 1-1 Japan
It was the one result neither of these nations wanted.
Ecuador and Japan shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw, which means both are heading home after an all too brief Copa America.
In a group containing holders Chile and 15-time tournament winners Uruguay, the majority of SBOBET followers only had to look at the Copa America 2019 betting odds to realise these countries were both up against it.
Yet considering victory would have sent either through to the quarter-finals and that Japan had given the La Celeste heavyweights a mighty scare last time out, there was no hiding this was a major disappointment for both.
Highlights of the game
Japan had the better of the early exchanges and produced one of the Copa America 2019 highlights 15 minutes in.
Shoya Nakajima may have been helped that Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez swept the ball straight to him. But he still had work to do and produced what is becoming his trademark with a 25-yard effort which flew in via the underside of the crossbar and left Dominguez stranded.
Enner Valencia should have brought Ecuador level eight minutes later, but his shot from close range was tame and well-saved by a scrambling Eiji Kawashima.
It was left to Angel Mena to produce the equaliser as he pounced on a parried shot 10 minutes before the break.
Robert Arboleda had a volley well-saved by Kawashima, but Mena was on hand to tap home the rebound from close range and haul his country level.
Considering Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu’s decision to use the competition as preparation for next year’s Tokyo Olympics saw him name a squad largely made up of under-23 players, it was no surprise his side were under the cosh for spells in this encounter.
Indeed, Moriyasu’s decision has not gone down well with the head coaches of Venezuela and Paraguay, who questioned the Samurai Blue’s overall involvement in the tournament.
Yet despite being troubled, the young Japanese side held out and almost snatched victory.
Midway through the second half, Naomichi Ueda headed a set-piece straight at Dominguez in the 66th minute, while at the other end, Pedro Pablo Velasco fired wide.
Although it was lively and both teams pushed in the closing stages, they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.
But having said that, either could have won late on.
Substitute Ayrton Preciado slipped a great chance just outside the post for Ecuador in stoppage time, while Daizen Maeda squandered a one-on-one chance for Japan in the 90th minute.
And moments earlier the drama was almost topped off when rising star Takefusa Kubo saw his late strike disallowed for offside.
Real Madrid’s new teenage signing appeared to have scored a dramatic winner only for the goal to be ruled out on video review.
All square in Belo Horizonte. Homeward bound for both.
Key statistics
This match was played in front of the smallest crowd of the tournament so far. Only 9,729 spectators were in the Mineirao stadium.
Ecuador have now gone seven matches without a win. They have won none of their last five meetings against Asian nations (drawn two, lost three). Their last victory in such an encounter came in a 1-0 success over Iran in 2008.
Ecuador have now failed to progress from the group stage in eight of the 11 Copa America tournaments with this competition format (since 1993). They have only managed to get through the group stage in 1993, 1997 and 2016.
This was also the first time in four Copa America matches they have not finished with 10 men following red cards for Antonio Valencia (2016), Jose Quintero and Gabriel Achilier in this tournament.
This was Nakajima’s ninth goal from outside the box in the Copa America (18 games played to date). That is the highest average of the last four tournaments (one every two matches).
Ecuador have won only two of their 19 Copa America games played since 2004 (drawn four, lost 13). Both successes came against non-CONMEBOL nations: 2-1 v Mexico in 2015 and 4-0 v Haiti in 2016.
What’s next?
That is the end of the road for both countries in Brazil.
Ecuador have no fixtures scheduled but will be back in action next autumn.
Much-travelled coach Hernan Gomez insists he will stay on and that his leadership was not behind his team’s failure to make the last eight.
Likewise, it’s an extended break for Japan, who have three matches lined up before Christmas in the East Asian Football Championship – Hong Kong (Dec. 6), South Korea (Dec. 10), China (Dec. 14).
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