Flamengo's Valencia scores in shoot-out after Ecuador draw v Japan | OneFootball

Flamengo forward came on in the 78th minute in a 0-0 draw between Ecuador and Japan this Thursday (01)

The Ecuador National Team lost to Japan on penalties this Thursday (01) at Yokohama International Stadium. The match was Ecuador’s second game of its Asian ‘tour’ after the FIFA World Cup and counted toward the Kirin Cup, a traditional friendly tournament. Anthony Valencia, Flamengo forward, came on in the 78th minute and converted one of the spot kicks.

HOW DID THE MATCH GO?

The Ecuadorian team looked sharper than in the Argentine coach’s debut, with a more compact setup. However, Ecuador could not break the deadlock. The second-half substitutions improved the team somewhat, as it began to build better through midfield and create numerical advantages.

Even so, despite a few opportunities, ‘La Tri’ did not have many clear chances to score. The exception came from a shot by Jordy Caicedo in the final minutes. Japan, meanwhile, had a spell of about ten minutes in the second half in which it managed to create dangerous chances. However, the Japanese side also lacked precision in the final third.

HOW DID THE PENALTY SHOOTOUT GO?

As a result, the match ended 0-0 and, since it was a friendly tournament, went straight to penalties. Japan converted all five attempts, with goals from Ueda, Kamada, Ito, Soma, and Maeda.

For Ecuador, Jordy Caicedo, Alan Mina, Jeremy Sarmiento, and Anthony Valencia converted their kicks. However, Denil Castillo’s attempt was saved by goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. As a result, Japan won 5-4 and secured the victory in the match.

HOW HAS GALLARDO’S START IN CHARGE OF ECUADOR BEEN?

This is Marcelo Gallardo’s second negative result in charge of ‘La Tri’. In his debut, Ecuador lost 3-0 to South Korea.

WHEN DOES ECUADOR PLAY AGAIN?

Anthony Valencia’s Ecuador returns to the field against Panama on Monday (05) at 3:30 a.m. (Brasília time). Therefore, the match will have coverage from Coluna do Fla on the website and social media.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.