Friendlies around the world: draws for Uruguay and Colombia in Asia and the fall of the new Ecuador in Australia

The selection of Uruguay started a new cycle this Friday with a 1-1 away draw against Japan, in a friendly match played at the National Stadium in Tokyo. he also showed up Colombia, who drew 2-2 with South Korea, in Seoul, to extend Argentine Néstor Lorenzo’s unbeaten run in the cycle. And just before it was the turn of Ecuadorwho made his bench debut for Spaniard Félix Sánchez, and fell 3-1 to Australia in Sydney.

Celestial Renewal

With a majority of new faces and an interim coach, Uruguay arrived in the Far East trying to leave behind the failed world experience in Qatar, where they were eliminated in the first round. None of his recent references have been on the pitch -Luis Suárez (Gremio, Brazil), Edinson Cavani (Valencia, Spain), Diego Godín (Vélez Sarsfield, Argentina) nor many of his new figures who shine in major leagues -Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham , England), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo, Brazil), Darwin Núñez (Liverpool, England).

“It’s time to show young faces, who are also elite footballers,” Marcelo Broli said shortly before leaving Montevideo, who in principle will lead the Charrúas only in this double FIFA round of international friendlies, against Japan and Korea South. Tuesday 28. Recklessness was noted in this debut in the ranks of the blues, who wore white against the Japanese.

The match opens with Japan trying to impose the speed of their attackers: in the 11th minute the Uruguayan goalkeeper Sergio Rochet intervenes for the first time by deflecting a precise cross-shot by the Japanese Mitoma for a corner which almost goes into the goal guest. And nine minutes later his good start prevented the striker himself from scoring the opener.

The premises seemed more incisive, while the visitors only showed glimpses of some individuals (Federico Valverde, Diego Rossi, Facundo Pellistri). However, in one of those isolated plays from the attack he managed to open the scoring with Valverde. In the 38th minute, the Real Madrid midfielder took a formidable shot from outside the penalty area which crashed into the crossbar. He himself took the rebound and had no difficulty scoring an unguarded goal.

Valverde has shown that by playing more freely and as a sort of hook, as he did throughout the second half against Japan, he is much more effective than the rather defensive position he surprisingly occupied in Qatar 2022.

The second half began with Uruguay focused on attacking, with lines closer together, but Japan quickly matched them with their traditional weapon: speed.

Aged 65, after a VAR review, the referee ruled out a penalty for Japan that was initially awarded after an apparent foul by visiting defender Santiago Bueno.

The well-deserved equalizer came ten minutes later with substitute Nishimura finishing off a quick game featuring the attack in the face of the passivity of the visiting defence.

Towards the end, Uruguay were about to take the lead when, in the 84th minute, Facundo Torres crushed a shot from the crossbar.

This Friday was the eighth friendly match between the two teams, with four Italian victories, two Japanese and two draws. Their only competitive encounter came in the 2019 Copa América in Mexico when they drew 2-2.

On Tuesday, Uruguay will have to face South Korea with whom they faced several times in the last World Cup and who come from a 2-2 draw with Colombia.

Lorenzo’s undefeated Colombian

The Colombian national team drew 2-2 away against South Korea today and extended their unbeaten record in the technical era of the Argentine Néstor Lorenzo, former assistant to José Pekerman, who took charge after the failed World Cup qualification in Qatar in the last South American qualifiers.

The local team, eighth finalists at the last World Cup, went into the break with a two-goal lead thanks to a brace from Son Hueng-Min in the 10th and 47th minute.

In the second half, the coffee team reached parity thanks to two players with a past in Argentina: the former Banfield James Rodríguez at one minute and the former River Jorge Carrascal at 4.

The Asian team was first coached by the German Jürgen Klinsmann, former world champion as a player at Italia ’90, who replaced the Portuguese Paulo Bento after Qatar 2022.

Colombia formed with Camilo Vargas; Daniel Muñoz, Carlos Cuesta, Jhon Lucumí and Johan Mojica; Kevin Castaño and Mateus Uribe; Diego Valoyes, James Rodriguez and Carrascal; Raffaele Borre. Then came Jhon Arias, Jhon Durán, Dylan Borrero, Radamel Falcao and Nelson Palacio.

Since Lorenzo took office in September last year, Colombia have won three friendlies (Guatemala 4-1, Mexico 3-2 and Paraguay 2-0) and drawn two more (USA 0-0 and Korea 2 -2). they will face Japan in Osaka.

Bad debut for Ecuador

The Ecuador team, in which the Spanish coach Félix Sánchez made his debut in place of the Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, lost in a friendly against Australia 3-1, at the Commbank Stadium, in Sydney,

Jackson Irvine opened the scoring for the locals in the 12th minute, Félix Torres equalized in the 23rd minute, but then the Oceanics took the lead through Awer Mabil in the 32nd minute. Already in the second half, Garang Kuol at 39.

Ecuador began a new phase with Spaniard Sánchez in charge, replacing Argentine Alfaro, who qualified the South American squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, even though they failed to progress past the group stage.

Australia, which continues under the technical direction of Graham Arnold, completed a good World Cup in Qatar, qualifying for the round of 16, where they were beaten by Argentina, who won it 2-1.

The worst news for the Ecuadorians is that Jeremy Sarmiento has suffered a fracture to the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, as confirmed by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. The Brighton player, teammate of Alexis Mac Allister in the Premier League, will be out in a month and a half to 2 months.

Source: agencies