Ecuadorian Keeper Dominguez Keeps France Firepower at Bay For Goalless Draw

World Cup ·

Ecuador held on to a goalless draw with France to prevent Les Bleus finishing with a 100% win record as they were frustratingly halted in the Maracana.

BY NISAR KHAN

ECUADOR 0 – 0 FRANCE

A French side lacking clinics in front of goal were thwarted by Dominguez in goal as 10-man Ecuador wrestle a point from the French, although not enough for the South Americans to progress. 

Mexico 1 – 0 CameroonF

Oribe Peralta (62′)

Friday 13 June 2014

Kick-off: 5pm BST (UK time)

Estádio das Dunas, Natal

Group A, World Cup Game #2

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Ecuador 0 – 0 France

Red card: Antonio Valencia (50′)

Wednesday 25 June 2014

Kick-off: 9pm BST (UK time)

Estádio Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

Group E, World Cup Game #44

A formulaic first half featured little action, besides France’s pressing forcing Ecuador to push back. The Maracana was unusually quiet for the first 45.

Cristhian Noboa brought the highlights of the first phase, having to apply some weird cover on his bleeding head after a collision.

Alexander Dominguez’s very busy second half would begin seconds in, having to deny Griezmann. He knew he was in for a much tougher night soon after.

Antonio Valencia was sent off for a foul on Digne, whereby his studs were showing. 10-man Ecuador now had it all to do.

If France had the quality up front for the game they would have scored numerous goals by then, but even Noboa, head bandage and all, came close to stunning France in a shock move on the other end.

Paul Pogba missed an excellent opportunity to head past the keeper, but instead headed it out for a goalkick. France would grow desperate as the full-time whistle neared.

Benzema couldn’t convert, neither could Giroud, all were fired at Dominguez, all were saved.

Stoppage time approached and the Ecuadorians even had a corner, for the first time in the game showing the desire to actually win, which they needed to in order to progress.

Dominguez stayed put, France couldn’t get past him. They topped the group but they showed little Championship character – thus exemplified by their frustrated elbows, tussles and whatever else you can find on the replays.

Conclusion

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Ecaudor’s Valencia Double Topples Hondurans

World Cup ·

Enner Valencia scored twice in response to Honduras’ earlier goal to put Ecuador back in contention for second round progression.

BY MATT LYNCH

HONDURAS 1 – 2 ECUADOR

Valencia has emerged as the frontrunning scoring supply for the Ecuadorians FOX SOCCER

Mexico 1 – 0 Cameroon

Oribe Peralta (62′)

Friday 13 June 2014

Kick-off: 5pm BST (UK time)

Estádio das Dunas, Natal

Group A, World Cup Game #2

– See more at: http://www.tsmbrazil.com/2014/06/WorldCup-Game2-MEXCMR_13.html#sthash.P8bOtK6q.dpuf

Honduras 1 – 2 Ecuador

Carlo Costly (31′), Enner Valencia (34′, 65′)

Friday 20 June 2014

11pm BST (UK time)

Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

Group E, World Cup Game #26

A game between the bottom two sides in group E never really looked like a game to stay up for on paper. But in reality it turned out to be a tasty contest. 

In the early exchanges Caicedo Manchester City legend… Let fly twice in the opening minutes with one strike being well saved by Dominguez the other deflecting of a Honduras man. Honduras looked on edge with Bernadez going into the referee’s book after only eight minutes for hammering into the Ecuadorian man. 

Momentum kept with Ecuador with Enner Valencia wasting a good opportunity after latching onto a quick ball by his goalkeeper.

This proved to be costly, quite literally when the Honduras keeper played a long ball straight onto the chest of Carlo Costly who finished with great composure against the scrambled Ecuador keeper on 31 minutes.

The Honduras lead did not last long as on 34 minutes they were punished where Enner Valencia was saved more embarrassment by slotting home a wayward Paredes slice of a shot. The bombardment of the Honduras goal soon happened after the goal with the power certainly in Ecuador’s favour.

On the stroke of half time Bengtsons bundled in goal was disallowed rightfully by the Australian referee. 

Going into the second half Ecuador scorned some vital set pieces. But soon made Honduras pay with the red alert coming before the winning goal when once again Bengtson was a goal disallowed. But soon after Enner Valencia made it a brace for him and Ecuador with a world class header from a pin point cross from a free-kick. 

With the game flung open, Valencia was denied his hat trick in stoppage time with the flag once again ruling another Ecuador goal out. Ecuador could of had a bag full, in a game that was like a rugby match. Physical, feisty, and aggressive.

Match breakdown

Man of the Match: Enner Valencia, 5 goals in his past 5 games his confidence is rocketing.
Flop of the Match: Honduras were very poor in general. But for an individual it has to be Bengtson, having a goal disallowed once is understandable but twice is not right.
Possession: Honduras 16 – 9 Ecuador
Shots: Honduras 47% – 53% Ecuador

Ecuador pick up a big win in Group E elevating them to possibly challenge Switzerland.

Ecuador express their character through Enner Valencia’s double that turns their game around – and puts them back in contention.

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Super Swiss Seferović Leads Switzerland Past Ecuador With Thrilling Extra-Time Winner

World Cup ·

BY NISAR KHAN

Haris Seferović scored in the final minute of Switzerland’s clash against Ecuador to give his side a thrilling win in the Brazillian capital.

SWITZERLAND 2 – 1 ECUADOR

What a World Cup moment!

Mexico 1 – 0 Cameroon

Oribe Peralta (62′)

Friday 13 June 2014

Kick-off: 5pm BST (UK time)

Estádio das Dunas, Natal

Group A, World Cup Game #2

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Switzerland 2 – 1 Ecuador
Enner Valencia (23′), Admir Mehmedi (48′), Haris Seferović (93′)

Sunday 15 June 2014

Kick-off: 5pm BST (UK time)

Estádio Nacional de Brasilia, Brasília

Group E, World Cup Game #9

Both seemed mediocre to open the game and appeared to be on course for a timid draw. However, as the atmosphere grew with progressive timing, Switzerland tested early.

But it would be Ecuador who would come on top first. Enner Valencia left Switzerland scratching their heads having conceded the first by a setpiece. 

Ayovi delivered in a dangering free-kick from the flanks, and Valencia had plenty of space and time to soar up in the air and emphatically head home.

Switzerland would try, but fail, for the remainder of the first half as numerous chances went astray.

However, just three minutes in, another headed goal would come – but this time from the Europeans. Ricardo Rodriguez delivered in a corner kick towards Admir Mehmedi, and it was finely headed for the equaliser.

From then on in, it became a tale of dwindling counter attacks, because at times both looked vulnerable but turned out lucky. Shaqiri wasted a good chance with a 3-on-2, forced to the near post of the keeper and luckily smashing off target.

No games in the 2014 World Cup are yet to end as draws, but it was looking like that was set to change as the game emerged in stoppage time.

There was little refraction in the style of the game onwards, but it would take one piece of sublimity from Switzerland to secure a magnificent win.

A rampant break from the Swiss would end in the path of Seferovic, and he would guide it in to give Switzerland an incredible win in the nick of time.

These are the World Cup moments we yearn for.

I personally would like to apologise for the poor quality of this match report but due to some errors and let-downs I was left to write it. We are now looking for more reliable writers to join our site and report on games during the World Cup as we are extremely shorthanded. 

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