Ecuador meets Honduras today in a battle between the two bottom teams in FIFA World Cup Group E. The match is to be played in the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, and will undoubtedly yield attacking football as both teams are desperate for points. However, almost more importantly is how these two sides perform, both having underimpressed in their first matches -- Ecuador conceded a late winner to Switzerland, and Honduras struggled against a strong France side.
Ecuador needs three points if they wish to have something to play for in their final game against France. The South Americans will need Antonio Valencia, who was rather quiet against France, to be lively on the wing and generate chances. Jefferson Montero will also need to be on form if the Ecuadorians are to get the necessary points out of this match. Coach Reinaldo Rueda, who was in charge of Honduras during their 2010 World Cup campaign, will look for Enner Valencia, who scored his sides lone goal against Switzerland, to finish off any chances he gets. The Ecuadorians will rely on pace through the flanks to pick the lock of the Honduran defense, which conceded three goals to France.
Honduras struggled to contain Karim Benzema in their opening match loss, and paid a hefty price for it. Although Ecuador will probably not present the same challenge as did France, Honduran coach Luis Fernando Suárez, who ironically took Ecuador to the last 16 in the 2006 World Cup, will need his side to play as a unit in order to beat an Ecuador side. With Stoke City midfielder Wilson Palacios suspended, Honduras will need strikers Jerry Bangston and Carlos Costly to finish any chances they have in front of goal. Honduras have never won a game in the World Cup and with a difficult Switzerland match to close out their Group E campaign, this might be their best chance.
I believe Honduras will struggle to maintain possesion against a much better Ecuador side, and will need to be efficient with their chances if they want to take any part of the points. Ecuador exhibited a good amount of quality against Switzerland and should consider themselves unlucky to have conceded the late goal. Although the managers, who are both Colombian, know the opposing team quite well, I expect this to be a match dominated by Ecuador, who will need to take whatever momentum is gained in this match to their final draw against a France side that is looking to make a surprise run at the cup.
Prediction: 2-0 Ecuador
Betting Odds (Courtesy of Bovada.lv)
Honduras: +1 (-140) // (+450) Moneyline
Ecuador: -1 (+115) // (-165) Moneyline
Draw: +300
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