Chile vs Ecuador

Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo is the venue as Chile and Ecuador go head-to-head in an exciting, albeit high-stake 2022 World Cup qualifying fixture.

Up until recently, Chile’s pursuit of their first World Cup finals since 2014 looked doomed, but three consecutive victories steered them into the direct World Cup qualification spots. Head coach Martin Lasarte has based his team’s upturn in form on a rock-solid defense that has stood firm in all three abovementioned triumphs, which has been the case in just one of their last five World Cup qualifying H2Hs (W2, D1, L2). Yet, ‘La Roja’ will have to improve upon that record if they are to keep their winning streak going, considering that all of their three home victories in the ongoing qualifiers have been accompanied by a clean sheet. Encouragingly, though, they’ve netted 2+ goals in four of their six 2022 World Cup qualifying games at home so far.

Meanwhile, despite an indifferent form that has seen none of their last eight World Cup qualifying matches produce the same outcome as the one prior (W3, D2, L3), Ecuador are well on course of reaching their first World Cup finals since ‘Brazil 2014.’ With five games left, the third-placed Ecuadorians hold a four-point lead over closest followers, meaning their destiny remains firmly in their own hands. A victory here in Santiago would see ‘La Tri’ defy the odds as pre-match underdogs for the third time in this qualifying cycle, having already defeated the likes of Colombia and Uruguay in such contests. However, it will take something special, given Ecuador’s underwhelming away showings. They have hauled just 20% of their total points tally in this qualifying campaign on foreign soil (5/20).