Ecuador vs Colombia prediction: SOUTH AMERICA: World Championship – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-10-17 23:30.
Following their sixth consecutive victory over Bolivia (2-1 away), Ecuador would have been third in the South American standings for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (WCQ) were it not for the three-point deduction handed to them by the confederation prior to the beginning of this WCQ cycle. All three of their WCQ matches so far have seen the pre-game favourite win by a one-goal margin, a pattern they’d be happy to see continue when hosting Colombia in Quito.
Instead, they began the fourth of 18 rounds in seventh place, one short of the six South American automatic qualification slots on offer in the 48-country 2026 WC finals. After manager FĂ©lix Sánchez praised his men for the “fighting spirit” that saw them bag a 96th-minute winner in Bolivia, his attention no doubt turned immediately to avenging his only previous meeting the Colombians – a 1-0 loss in charge of guest nation Qatar at the 2019 Copa AmĂ©rica.
Colombia’s next aim is to become the first side to win on Ecuadorian soil in more than two years (D3, L4 for all teams playing there across that period) after they dropped two points as favourites for a second successive WCQ match, this time at home to Uruguay (2-2). In contrast to their next opponents, they were on the wrong end of a stoppage-time effort courtesy of a penalty that will now leave them without goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, who was sent off for the reckless challenge that preceded it.
Optimistic fans will be quick to point out Colombia are now undefeated in 14 games (W10, D4) dating back to March 2022, although only three of those fixtures took place in opposition territory. Head coach Néstor Lorenzo may need to shuffle the pack to deal with the physical challenges presented by Quito’s high altitude and exorcise the ghosts of their 6-1 loss at this venue during the previous WCQ cycle.
Players to watch: Ecuador’s 16-year-old wonderkid Kendry Páez became the youngest-ever South American to score in a WCQ encounter, opening the scoring shortly before half-time to get off the mark for his country. He has already signed to join Chelsea when turning 18, so it was only fitting that his maiden goal came thanks to the first of MoisĂ©s Caicedo’s two assists in Bolivia. Meanwhile, Colombia’s James RodrĂguez has netted in four of his last five starts for his country, with all four goals coming between the 35th and 50th minutes.
Hot streak: All six of Colombia’s losses since the last WCQ H2H were by either penalties or a one-goal margin.