BRA vs ECU Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier: Rodrygo on the scoresheet as Brazil beats Ecuador 1-0

A freekick in a good position for Ecuador as Caicedo is brought down by Joao Gomes. It is now or never for Ecuador. 

Substitute Medina stands over the ball. His shot is slightly heavy as the ball sails over teh crossber.

And that is it for the night as the referee blows the whistle for full time. 

Brazil climbs to fourth in the standings with 10 points while Ecuador are sixth with eight.

Brazil will face Paraguay next on September 11.

Four minutes of added time to play.

A cross comes in from the right for Ecuador and Mercado is there inside the box. However, he does not get enough power in his header as the ball is easily gathered by Alisson.

Time is running out for Ecuador as Brazil seems content with the 1-0 scoreline, passing the ball around and away from their opponents. 

The freekick in from Paes looks good but its curls away from everyone inside the box and goes out for a goal kick.

Brazil: Andre is replaced by Joao Gomes

Ecuador: Estuipinan is replaced by Yaimar Medina

Ecuador is all over the place now, desperately trying to find a goal. Gerson brings down Yeboah on the right side of the pitch and it is a freekick for Ecuador. 

Substitute Lucas Moura is booked after a harsh foul on Gruezo.

Brazil: Paqueta and Arana are replaced by Wendell and Lucas Moura 

Vinicius Jr gets the ball in Ecuador’s half and takes on the defenders. He makes his way into the box and tries to go past the advancing keeper and take a shot. He hits the side netting in the end.

Pause in the match after a coming together between Paqueta and Gruezo on the far side after challenging for the ball. 

Arana goes down on the pitch and the referee stops play for medical attention. Looks like that is the end of the match for Arana.

Ecuador: Rodriguez and Valencia are replaced b John Mercado and John Yeboah

Danilo whips in a heavy cross from the right side of the box which falls to Vini Jr on the left. He goes for goal himself from a tight angle but keeper Galindez has it covered. 

Brazil: Guimaraes and Henrique are replaced by Estevao and Gerson

A heavy collision near the touchline between Ararna and Valencia. The referee stops play for medical attention for the Brazilian. 

Looks like Brazil is getting ready to make some changes as well. 

Paqueta lobs the ball through for Herique inside the box but the left-footed winger winger is unable to take a shot as he is muscled off the ball by the Ecuador defenders.

Estupinan gets the ball on the left and passes it to Paes who is on the edge of the penalty area. He tries to hit it first time but ends up skying the ball.

The Ecuador backline is entirely inside the Brazil half now as they try to find a way to pierce the Brazilian defence.

Brazil wins a freekick in a good position after Rodrygo is fouled. Paqueta and Rodrygo stand over the ball and the latter ends ups hitting it way into the stands.

Ecuador kicks off the second half shotting from left to right.

Ecuador: Sarmiento and Mendez are replaced by Kendry Paez and Carlos Gruezo

Brazil is caught off guard and the ball falls to Caicedo who is one on one with the goalkeeper. He takes a touch and tries to chip it past an advancing Alisson.

Alisson makes the initial save but the ball falls back to Caicedo who sends it back toward goal. Gabriel tracks back well and makes a brilliant goal line clearance to maintain Brazil’s lead, going into half time.

And that seems to be the last major action of the half as the referee blows the whistle for half time.

Henrique makes a well-timed run down the right and drives into the box. He plays a low pass across the goal but Felix Torres covers Vini Jr at the far post and clears the ball away for a corner.

Felix Torres goes down to the ground and the referee stops play to call on medical attention. First major stop of the game so far. 

He is back on his feet and the play resumes as three minutes of added tijme is annouced.

A deflected ball falls to Kevin Rodriguez and he tries to break away. He is outmuscled by Gabriel and loses the ball as Ecuador looks for a positive response before the break.

Mendez tries a shot from outside the box for Ecuador. It goes wide of the left post in the end.

Vinicius tries to find Paqueta inside the box with a little dink over the top. However, the opposing keeper reaches the ball first and gathers it before Paqueta gets a touch on it.

Things are heating up now!! Kevin Rodriguez is brought down by a harsh follow through from Gabriel. The Ecuador players confront him for his challenge and referee has to pull the players apart for play to resume.

Rodrygo scores!! After passing the ball around the back a few times, Rodrygo gets the ball outside the box and lines up a shot. The ball takes a wicked deflection off a Ecuador defender and goes in off the right post past a helpless Galindez 

Sarmiento gets the ball for Ecuador and carries it into the middle. He cuts to his right and attempts to find Valencia inside the box but he is held off and the ball is cleared by the Brazil defenders.

Vinicius Jr races onto a through ball played down the middle but his first-time shot is blocked away for a corner

Brazil has had almost 75 per cent of the possession till now. Ecuador is trying to break on the counter but is met by a strong Brazil backline.

Franco is brought down by Arana in the middle of the pitch and referee gives yet another foul.

Vinicius races down the left flank and tries to find Paqueta in the middle. However the West Ham midfielder does not get his touch right and and gives the ball away. 

Paqueta brings down Caicedo on the left side of the pitch and is penalised. He looks visibly frustrated with the decision but the referee waves it off. 

Another freekick for Brazil after Henriques is fouled. Rodrygo goes for goal himself from way out and forces a keeper Galindez to punch the ball away. 

Hincape tries to find Valencia with a through ball which goes past a sliding Marquinhos. However, Valencia’s touch is bad and the ball is cleared away by the Brazil defence.

Ecuador is slowly building up its rhythm, keeping possession of the ball at the back. 

Danilo whips in a ball from the right which goes past everyone inside box. Arana stretches on the far side but fails to keep the ball in play.

Rodrygo wins a freekick in Ecuador’s half very early on after forcing a foul from Sarmiento. The cross from Rodrygo produces nothing in the end, despite Gabriel’s best efforts.

Brazil kicks off the match shooting from left to right. 

The players are making their way into the Couto Pereira Stadium, in Paraná state.

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Real Madrid defender Militao leaves Brazil camp with leg injury

Real Madrid centre back Eder Militao has left Brazil’s training camp ahead of their South America World Cup qualification fixtures against Ecuador and Paraguay due to a leg injury, the Brazilian FA (CBF) said on Thursday.

The last time the two sides met was in a FIFA World Cup South America qualifying match in 2022 where they played out a 1-1 draw.

Casemiro’s sixth minutes goal was cancelled out by Felix Torres in the 75th minute. 

Alisson(GK), Danilo(C), Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Guilherme Arana, Andre, Bruno Guimaraes, Rodrygo, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Jr, Luiz Hendrique

Brazilian maestro Neymar Jr will not be part of the squad that faces Ecuador due to an ACL injury that he sustained during the World Cup qualifying defeat against Uruguay in October 2023.

Played: 35

Brazil: 27

Ecuador: 2

Draws: 6

Hernán Galíndez (GK), Felix Torres, Piero Hincapie, Pervis Estupinan, William Pacho, Kevin Rodríguez, Moises Caicedo, Jeremy Sarmiento, Jhegson Méndez, Alan Franco, Enner Valencia

Five-time world champion Brazil will face Ecuador in the FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifier on Saturday, at the Couto Pereira Stadium, in Paraná state, Brazil. 

Brazil will be coming into the match looking to move on from its Copa America 2024 quarterfinal exit against Uruguay on penalties.

Head coach Dorival Junior, who took over as Brazil’s coach at the start of the year, left out eight players who were part of Brazil’s squad in this summer’s Copa America tournament.

Seventeen-year-old striker Estevao, who is set to join Chelsea next year from Palmeiras, was handed his first call-up to Brazil’s national team, while Veteran forward Neymar remains out as he completes his recovery from an ACL injury he sustained last year.

Brazil is in desperate need of a change and is currently sixth in the qualification table with just two wins, three losses and one draw.

Ecuador on the other hand is fifth (three wins, one loss and two draws), despite getting a three-point deduction for the use of a document containing false information for Byron Castillo in the previous World Cup qualification cycle.

The Brazil vs Chile FIFA World Cup 2026 CONMEBOL qualifying match will not be available for telecast in India.

You can follow Sportstar’s live blog of the game for updates

The Brazil vs Ecuador FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match will kick off at 6:30 AM IST on September 7, Saturday, at the Couto Pereira Stadium, in Paraná state, Brazil.