Goal and Highlights: Argentina 1-0 Ecuador in Conmebol Qualifiers 2023

The match ends, Argentina wins by the minimum difference against Ecuador and gets the three points. On the other hand, the Ecuadorian team still owes three points from its Conmebol sanction. 

Di Maria misses! El Fideo came close to scoring his second goal of the day but his shot went just wide of the post.

GOOOOOOOOOL FOR ARGENTINA! LEO MESSI! FROM A FREE KICK THE ARGENTINIAN STAR SENDS THE BALL INTO THE NET AND SCORES THE FIRST GOAL!

Messi's shot from the edge of the area was denied by Hernan Galindez

After a good play, Tagliafico's shot from the outside hit the crossbar.

Messi's good cross, but no player was able to deflect it: Ecuador was spared

At the end of the first 45 minutes of the match, Argentina and Ecuador remain 0-0.

Argentina failed to trouble the Ecuadorian defense after having lowered the revolutions and the visit has managed to plant itself in your field of play to neutralize Argentina's attacking attempts.

Dibu Martínez managed to keep a clean sheet after saving Enner Valencia's shot.

The game slows down, Argentina begins to relax its intensity and Ecuador gradually begins to have possession of the ball.

Alexis found Messi, who struck a great left-footed shot that went just wide of the post.

Good cross by Messi, but Lautaro failed to deflect it

After Rodrigo De Paul's through ball, Molina got into the box and the cross couldn't find a teammate.

Argentina is looking for its first three points while Ecuador wants to win to settle its penalty.

In a couple of moments we will start with the broadcast of the duel between Argentina and Ecuador, match corresponding to an international friendly of FIFA Date from the Estadio Más Monumental.

This is the roster that sends Ecuador to the field to look for the victory against Argentina at the Estadio Más Monumental.

⚡️Nuestro 𝗫𝗜 que saltará a la cancha en el estadio Más Monumental presentado por @gatoradeecuador pic.twitter.com/DbQwvaTdRa

— La Tri 🇪🇨 (@LaTri) September 7, 2023

This is the roster that Argentina sends to the field to look for the victory against Ecuador at the Estadio Más Monumental.

🏆 #Eliminatorias

📋 ¡Once inicial confirmado! ⚽

Así formará @Argentina 🇦🇷 para el encuentro ante #Ecuador 🇪🇨 ¡Vuelven al ruedo los campeones! pic.twitter.com/2S2ub7b4UP

— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) September 7, 2023

This edition will start with a double date that will take place from September 7 to 12, 2023. The final rounds, corresponding to the 17th and 18th, will take place between 9 and 14 October 2025.

The team that finishes seventh in the qualifying table in this edition will have an additional opportunity to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in March of that year. This team will participate in an intercontinental playoff, where it will face a team from another confederation. The winner of this playoff will get another ticket to the World Cup. It is important to note that the format of this playoff and the opponent have not yet been determined by FIFA.

In this edition, the six teams that occupy the top positions in the qualifying table at the end of the CONMEBOL Qualifiers will automatically obtain a direct pass to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is important to note that this time the tournament will have 48 teams participating, which represents an increase from the 32 that participated previously. Due to this expansion, two additional direct tickets will be disputed in the CONMEBOL region compared to previous qualifiers.

In a traditional "round-robin" format, which has remained constant since the qualifiers for the 1998 World Cup in France, the teams play each other in round-robin matches. This means that each team will play 18 qualifying matches in total. In this competition scheme, proper management of injuries, suspensions and player fatigue is essential for sustained success.

The CONMEBOL qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America are a decisive stage to define which South American teams will have the privilege of participating in the most important global event.

The wait for the FIFA Date in September is over, all the emotions of the international duels are back with the best goals, the best plays, the best players and the best controversies in a week where the nations will once again measure themselves to continue their process towards the 2026 World Cup. In this match, Argentina and Ecuador will face each other, two nations that will face each other in 90 minutes of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. 

Do not miss a detail of the match with the with VAVEL. Follow along with us all the details, commentaries, analysis and rosters for this Argentina vs Ecuador match.

Ecuador will start the CONMEBOL qualifiers with -3 points due to a sanction imposed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) before the start of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. This sanction is related to soccer player Byron Castillo.

The controversy originated when Chile filed a complaint with the CAS alleging suspicions about Castillo's birth certificate. Chile argued that the winger, who plays for Mexican club Pachuca, was Colombian and not Ecuadorian, which raised doubts about his eligibility to represent the Ecuadorian national team in international competitions.

After an investigation and evaluation by CAS, it was determined that there were legitimate doubts about the nationality of Byron Castillo, which led to the sanctioning of Ecuador with the deduction of three points in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup as a result of this 'Castillo case'. This sanction has a significant impact on Ecuador's performance in the qualifiers, leaving the team facing an additional challenge to secure qualification for the tournament.

For this match, the player to watch will be Ángel Mena. The Ecuadorian center forward is a killer in the box and after a great performance in Qatar 2022, he will look to be the guide of his team to find the goal. 

For this match it will be more than obvious that the player to watch is Leo Messi, the Argentine star never tires of making history and after winning the Leagues Cup, he will be looking to take his country to another World Cup.

Ecuador's national soccer team is focused on starting its participation in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, leaving aside concerns about the three-point suspension it will face due to the 'Castillo case'. This is the impression conveyed by two of the national team's players, goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez and forward Kevin Rodríguez, during a brief conversation with the media before their training session at the San Lorenzo club facilities in Buenos Aires, where the Ecuadorian team is training. 

"We have to try to focus a little more on the issue of the three points and think about what the match is going to be like. The idea of the whole group is to try to get as many points as we need."

After securing its place in the World Cup in Qatar 2022 (along with the victory in the Copa América and the recent Finalissima), the team that holds the world title aspires to prolong its successful performance, having Lionel Messi as the undisputed leader. In the run-up to the clash with Ecuador, coach Lionel Scaloni offered statements at a press conference held on Wednesday.
"The talk we had as soon as we saw them (the players) was that in the end the past is over, it was very nice, it was historic, but now we have to go on. The DNA of the player, and more so of the Argentinean player, is to keep winning, to compete. We want to continue competing in the same way, respecting our rivals, knowing that now it will be much more complex. None of us can sleep".

Estadio Monumental, whose full name is "Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti," is one of the most iconic and prestigious stadiums in Argentina and all of South America. It is located in the neighborhood of Núñez, in the city of Buenos Aires, and is home to Club Atlético River Plate, one of the most successful and popular soccer clubs in Argentina and the world. The stadium was inaugurated on May 25, 1938 and is named after Antonio Vespucio Liberti, who was president of River Plate at the time and one of the driving forces behind the construction of the stadium. The Monumental is one of the largest stadiums in Argentina and has a capacity of approximately 70,000 spectators. It has hosted numerous sporting and cultural events throughout its history.

The Ecuadorian team is in full preparation and dedication to face the CONMEBOL qualifiers with the clear objective of securing its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With a talented squad and an indomitable spirit, the Ecuadorians have their sights set on qualifying for soccer's most prestigious international tournament.
Ecuador, known for their fast and attacking play, are aiming to make a mark in these qualifiers and prove their quality against renowned South American opponents. The road will be challenging, but Ecuador is ready to face each match with determination and fighting spirit to achieve an outstanding performance in the qualifiers and advance towards the 2026 World Cup.

CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers are a time of great excitement for soccer lovers in Argentina. Passion and anticipation are palpable throughout the country as the Argentine national team prepares to face its South American rivals in the quest for a place in the World Cup. As the reigning world champions, the Argentines must be there to defend their crown won in Qatar 2022.
Argentina, with its impressive roster of talented players, is looking to secure its place in the next World Cup while facing the likes of Brazil, Uruguay and other high caliber teams.

Every September, fans around the world look forward to FIFA World Cup dates, a period when national teams come together for exciting friendly and qualifying matches. This lull in the domestic leagues provides the perfect opportunity for national teams to showcase their talent and seek international glory. In addition to being a chance for teams to fine-tune their tactics and players, the September FIFA Date is also a showcase for promising young players looking to earn a place on the international stage.

The Argentina vs Ecuador match will be played at Monumental Stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The kick-off is scheduled at 18:00 pm ET.

My name is Luis Miguel and I will be your host for this game. We will provide you with all the information on VAVEL.