0-0: Ecuador remain goalless on the doorstep of the World Cup

Ecuador could not overcome a goalless draw against Iraq in a friendly played this Saturday at the Cívitas Metropolitano in Madrid and thus showed its lack of goals, even though Gonzalo Plata missed a penalty at the last moment, because he scored only two goals in the last six matches in preparation for a World Cup in Qatar that they open against the host on Sunday the 20th and where they still arrive with doubts if there is a Byron Castillo who leaves on the field due to injury after 36 minutes of the game.

As expected, Ecuador dominated the match from the start. They had the ball without much opposition from an Iraqi team that, although they committed fewer fouls in the first half -six to the South American team’s 13-, did so more harshly.

So at minute 35 Byron Castillo had to leave the pitch. The winger is a starter after becoming a star in recent months due to claims by Peru and Chile about his place of birth – they claim it is Colombia and not Ecuador-, with confirmation on Tuesday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ( TAS ) of Ecuador that can play in Qatar 2022 and the statements in the last hours of the Ecuadorian ambassador to Qatar that he will not be part of the final list that will be announced by coach Gustavo Alfaro on Monday.

Byron Castillo was injured

Active in attack, with the whole band for him, playing on the right side, but his momentum ended. A difficult challenge by Alai Hussain with both feet down, like a pincer, caused Byron Castillo’s left foot to be trapped and, after being treated by doctors for several minutes, he had to leave the field of obviously lame game.

Just three minutes later, Félix Torres also came close to leaving the game after another difficult challenge, but was ultimately left with a scare. Iraq wanted to counter the superiority of Ecuador’s quality by playing hard and the ‘tri’ stuck.

Iraq’s toughness

Goalkeeper Jalal Hassan Hachim stopped Ecuador’s first good chance with a powerful first-round shot from outside the area by Diego Palacios in the 11th minute and seven minutes later it was a poor start from him, which was not catch the ball, is about to become a goal. 1-0.

With no great chances, although the tension rose due to attacks by Iraqi players, the game continued until the 64th minute when Gonzalo Plata, one of Ecuador’s stars, had the initial goal with his boot, but the his left-footed shot, it was cleared by the rival goalkeeper.

In the 71st minute, Kevin Angulo also tried his luck with a long shot that went over the crossbar. Ecuador, who finished with 73% possession, continued to try to overcome the bad dynamics in front of the goal, several times tried crosses from the side, but to no avail.

Silver did not receive a penalty

Not even a penalty in the final moments of the game could bring joy to Ecuador. Gonzalo Plata, a Valladolid player, answered the maximum penalty after the referee signaled with his hand inside the area, but goalkeeper Hachim guessed the side of the shot, to his right, and failed a ‘tri’ that caressed the goal fighting. him too much.

In the absence of Gustavo Alfaro to inform the final list for Qatar 2022 next Monday, a day before traveling to Doha, where the rest of his great figures are already present, the ‘tri’ closes its final preparation friendly adding 270 minutes without celebrating a goal. .