Key Battles That Will Shape Ecuador's Clash with Honduras

Ecuador and Honduras had, in their own different ways, heartbreaking opening games, and the error margin for both of them is now almost nonexistent. The team that ends up losing will have to prematurely say goodbye to its second-round dreams.

This will be a special matchup between Colombian managers. Reinaldo Rueda took Honduras to South Africa 2010, and he is now in charge of the Ecuadorian national team. While Luis Fernando Suarez was the successful coach who led Ecuador to the second round in Germany 2006 and is now responsible for Honduras.

These are the key battles that will shape Ecuador‘s match against Honduras.

Even though he failed to have a major impact in the game against Switzerland, Antonio Valencia is the key player on the right wing for Ecuador. The Manchester United winger needs to create more danger, or Ecuador will seriously lack options to score. 

Valencia will be facing Honduras left full-back Emilio Izaguirre. The Celtic player has been one of the most constant players in Suarez’s era. Izaguirre had trouble in the game against France, but it is unlikely that he will be sent to the bench.

Izaguirre also has the capability of adding himself to the Honduran attack and has a powerful long-range shot, something that Valencia should consider when on defensive duties.

Christian Noboa is the key in containing in the midfield area for Ecuador, but his duties go beyond just defending. Noboa becomes the transition from defense to offense for the South Americans; his distribution of the ball is transcendental for Ecuador’s attack to work.

Honduras counts with midfielder Roger Espinoza to try to block Ecuador’s distribution channel, Noboa. Espinoza is a physical player but he also knows what to do with the ball in his feet. Long-range shots are also a weapon from the ex-Sporting Kansas City player.

Expect a fierce battle between these two.

Veteran Honduran centre-backs Victor Bernardez and Maynor Figueroa will be responsible for stopping strikers Enner Valencia and Felipe Caicedo.

Basically all of the Honduran defensive back line performed poorly against France, and that needs to change dramatically if they want to get points against Ecuador. Bernardez and Figueroa have to be the leaders to organize Honduras in the back and fix everything that went wrong in the opener.

Bernardez suffered an injury against France, but according to a FutbolMLS.com report (in Spanish), he will be ready to play against Ecuador. In case he is not fully recovered to play, the full responsibility will be on Figueroa’s shoulders.

Valencia scored Ecuador’s goal with a header against the Swiss, but a hurt Honduran defense is probably going to give him a harder time getting an easy header in the small box.

Caicedo had a disappointing performance against the Europeans and will certainly be looking to redeem himself. Caicedo can get very physical when needed, which may lead to a tough battle with Bernardez.

Carlo Costly is the most dangerous player up top for Honduras. It is hard to think of the Central American squad finding the net without him being involved. Costly is one of those players whose pride doesn’t allow him to give up even in the worst circumstances.

Against France, he showed his courage fighting for a lost ball in the box, winning the ball and producing a semicontroversial call when the French defender took the ball back.

Costly will have to face Ecuador’s central defender Jorge Guagua. The Emelec player is a solid defender whose had a respectable career with the national team. Curiously, he was one of the chosen ones by Suarez for Germany 2006.