Otamendi blunder in Ecuador: Benfica man spoils special match | OneFootball

Nicolás Otamendi, captain of Benfica, was sent off in the Ecuador - Argentina match, a special game in which he was team captain.

10 Sep 2025 | 08:34 |

Argentina lost 1-0 to Ecuador in a qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup. The game was marked by Nicolás Otamendi's farewell from matches of this caliber and the Benfica center back even captained the albiceleste in the absence of Lionel Messi... but ended up being sent off.

Playing at home and with the possibility of finishing the group in second place, Ecuador took control of the match from the start. Argentina tried to respond, but the task became more complicated when Otamendi was sent off with a straight red card, at 31'.

Still in the first half, referee Wilmar Rondan, with the help of VAR, awarded a penalty in favor of the Ecuadorians. In the dispute with Emiliano Martínez, the experienced Enner Valencia did not falter and scored what would be the only goal of the match.

At the start of the second half, Moisés Caicedo saw his second yellow and the match was played with 10 units on each side. Although Argentina created more danger since then, it was not enough to reverse the disadvantage.

Despite the loss, Otamendi and company are qualified for the next World Cup - and they already know some possible opponents. The player's team of Benfica finishes the qualifying phase in first place in the group, with 38 points. Ecuador (29), Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay (28) also qualified, while Bolivia (20) will play in the playoff. Venezuela (18), Peru (12) and Chile (11) are out of the competition.

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