Ancelotti’s men showed more attacking intent in the second-half but were ultimately let down by poor finishing.
Carlo Ancelotti’s highly anticipated debut as Brazil manager ended in frustration on Thursday night as Brazil were held to a 0-0 draw by Ecuador in South American World Cup qualifying. Despite fielding a strong lineup featuring Vinicius Junior, Marquinhos and Casemiro, Brazil struggled to find their rhythm in the match. As a result, they failed to unlock a well-organized Ecuadorian defense.
The first half offered little in terms of clear-cut chances, though Brazil’s brightest moment came when Vinicius was played through by Gerson. However, the Real Madrid attacker saw his close-range effort denied by Ecuadorian goalkeeper Gonzalo Valle. Ecuador’s best opportunity came in the second half via John Yeboah’s through ball to Nilson Angulo but the striker was flagged offside.
Ancelotti’s men showed more attacking intent in the second-half but were ultimately let down by poor finishing. Richarlison squandered a golden chance from a Vinicius cutback while Casemiro’s strike from distance was once again met by Valle’s safe hands.
The result leaves Brazil in fourth place in the standings with 22 points. Ancelotti made a number of key decisions in his first match at the helm. He handed Vinicius Junior the iconic No. 10 shirt and reinstated Casemiro and Richarlison into the starting XI. He also gave promising teenager Estevao a chance to impress on the left wing in place of the suspended Raphinha.
On the other hand, Ecuador continued to impress in their qualification campaign. The draw keeps them in second place with 24 points, edging them closer to securing one of the six automatic qualification spots for the 2026 World Cup.
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Next up, Brazil will face third-placed Paraguay, who are coming off a 2-0 victory over Uruguay. Ecuador, meanwhile, will look to build momentum when they take on ninth-placed Peru.
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