Uruguay knew how to win and defeated Ecuador

• Four goals were scored in the second half.
• Brandon Díaz, crucial for La Celeste.

A tightly contested first half that looked set to finish 0-0 produced excitement with one minute remaining. Uruguay’s No.10 Brandon Díaz kept pushing down the left flank and delivered a cut-back for Camilo García to tap in with no goalkeeper in place.

The second half delivered plenty of action. Early on, with Uruguay attacking with their goalkeeper, Xavier Chiquito scored a stunning goal from behind the halfway line to level the match for the first time.

One minute later, Defiore restored La Celeste’s lead with a powerful finish. But La Tri refused to give up and equalised once again, this time through a well-placed strike from Vera at 6’.

The match went end to end and at 12’, Brandon Díaz once again created the play, with Duque getting the final touch to put Uruguay back in front for the third time in the game.

Line-ups

Ecuador (2): 1-Franklin Pavón, 3-Steven Soria (C), 10-Felipe Cortez, 11-Mathías Mendoza, 13-Bryan Zambrano.

Substitutes: 12-Eddy Albarracin, 2-Bryan Salazar, 4-Gregorio Peña, 5-Wilder Quiroz, 6-Edisson Serrano, 7-Xavier Chiquito, 8-Jonathan Vera, 9-Jordan Mercado, 14-Steven Mecias.

Coach: Darío Meza.

Uruguay (3): 12-Mathías Fernández, 4-Bruno Natalgiovanni, 6-Nicolás Lachaga, 7-Diego Defiore, 8-Ignacio Salgues (C).

Substitutes: 1-Christian Gaitán, 2-Alejandro Aunchayna, 3-Maximiliano Navarro, 5-Agustín Sosa, 9-Nicolás Lamas, 10-Brandon Díaz, 11-Camilo García, 13-Franco Duque, 14-Nicolás Martínez.

Coach: Gabriel De Simone.

Goals:

1st half: 19’ García (U). Partial score: Ecuador 0-1 Uruguay

2nd half: 2’ Chiquito (E), 3’ Defiore (U), 6’ Vera (E), 12’ Duque (U). Final score: Ecuador 2-3 Uruguay

Cards:

Yellow: Mercado (E)

Referee: Valeria Palma (Chile)