Qatar and Ecuador meet at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (Al-Sadd Stadium), in a friendly match. This will be the 5th of the year for Qatar, after the previous disputed against Palestine, China PR, Syria and Iraq. In the case of Ecuador, this is their 3rd friendly of the year, after having already faced Guatemala and Jamaica. These two teams have never faced each other before, so this will be their first direct confrontation. In this game the home factor may be decisive, since Ecuador presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor.
Qatar:
The team of the house disputes its 5th friendly of the year. In the previous friendlies it registered the following markers: Qatar (3-0) Palestine, Qatar (1-0) China PR, Qatar (2-2) Syria and Iraq (2-3) Qatar. This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 5 wins, 2 draws and 8 losses in away matches, with 20 goals scored and 27 conceded; against 6 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses at their stadium, with 25 goals scored and 18 conceded. In the last 10 home matches for all competitions, Qatar won 4, drew 3 and lost 3.
For this competition, he does not lose 4 games. Their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in all of the last 4 matches for this competition. In their away matches there is a tendency for goals, since 12 of the last 18 matches have ended with Over 2,5 goals. There is 1 period that stands out in the last 5 home matches for all competitions: they have scored 3 of their 7 goals between minutes (16′-30 ‘).
Qatar comes to this game motivated after a 3-0 victory against Palestine: the team’s goals were scored by Almoez Ali, Akram Afif and Al-Haydos. The far left Akram Afif, player of Al Sadd, makes speed his best weapon, being a very competent player in the defense-attack transition. The number 10 Al-Haydos is the protagonist that presents more quality in the middle zone of the land. Everything indicates that the coach Félix Sánchez has all his players.
Ecuador:
The visiting team disputes its 3rd friendly of the year. In the previous friendlies he registered the following markers: Ecuador (2-0) Guatemala and Ecuador (2-0) Jamaica. This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 3 wins, 3 draws and 9 losses in away matches, with 16 goals scored and 23 conceded; against 8 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses at their stadium, with 30 goals scored and 17 conceded. In the last 4 away matches Ecuador has lost 4. Their defense has not been very strong, as they have conceded goals in 7 of the last 10 matches, but their offense has scored frequently, since they have scored goals in 8 of the last 10 games. In 14 matches, they suffered the first goal 7 times and only managed 1 comeback.
Ecuador enters in this duel after a 2-0 triumph over the fragile Guatemalan team: the goals were scored by Valencia and Romario Ibarra. Attending to its qualities, the whole of Ecuador chooses to act with a line of four defenses, four midfielders and two strikers. Valencia and Bolaños are the most offensive references in Ecuador, both being very competent in the finalization. In this way, and for acting in front of a low quality opponent at the tactical level, it is guessed that the Ecuadorian team will adopt a more offensive strategy, successfully exploiting the spaces in the rival defensive line. Coach Hernán Gómez can count on the usual players.
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1.85
