Ecuador vs. Honduras: Key Issues La Tri Must Solve to Win in Group E

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 17, 2014

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Ecuador will take on Honduras on Friday in Group E's second round of matches. The June 20 showdown in Curitiba provides Reinaldo Rueda's side a chance to shake off the heartbreaking last-gasp loss to Switzerland on Sunday.

The performance in Ecuador's opener was probably not up to the standard Rueda would have hoped for. Enner Valencia's first-half goal certainly would've buoyed feelings going into the half, but La Tri left a lot of questions unanswered going into the break and were duly punished.

Looking ahead to the next match, Honduras should provide an easier matchup than Ottmar Hitzfeld's squad. This should give Rueda an opportunity to tinker with a few things and improve his side's chances of advancing out of Group E.

What are some areas that need to be addressed? Here are just a couple major ones.

 

Defensive solidity

Ecuador's defensive play has constantly been a major weakness.

Both of Switzerland's goals could be pegged down to some shaky defensive work. The equalizer early in the second half was a header by Admir Mehmedi, who had been on the pitch barely two minutes, from a great corner-kick delivery from Ricardo Rodriguez.

Midfielder Carlos Gruezo failed in the aerial challenge and keeper Alexander Dominguez, who returned to the starting lineup after not featuring in pre-tournament friendlies, missed as well. Dominguez's return was a welcome sign as he replaced the shaky Maximo Banguera, but it wasn't the best of performances from the stopper.



Dominguez, known in Ecuador as Dida after the Brazilian great, had been battling a hand injury for a while. Banguera struggled in the build-up to the tournament as Dominguez fought for fitness, and the LDU Quito stopper was deemed good to go for this one.

However, it was apparent that he was not at his best. He put forth a middling effort between the stic...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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