Copa America
2021-06-23 - Ecuador vs Peru
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Copa America Group B
Wednesday 23rd June 2021 - Kick Off 10pm
This game is live on TV
Ecuador
A goal conceded deep into second half injury time has put Ecuador in a difficult spot in the Copa America and they may be on the brink of exiting the competition in the Group Stage. They are in a desperate situation knowing they likely need a victory on Wednesday to have any hope of finishing in the top four in Group B or Ecuador will be forced to beat hosts Brazil in the final round of games in the section.
The opening loss to Colombia in a tight fixture will have hurt Ecuador, but the 2-2 draw with Covid-19 hit Venezuela has left them bottom of the Group with two fixtures to be played. This certainly looks the easier one of the two remaining, but Ecuador were beaten by Peru in a World Cup Qualifier earlier this month.
Ecuador have not won any of their last 4 games, all of those being played in June, although the draw with Venezuela ended a sequence of 3 straight defeats. Prior to the defeat to Brazil in early June, Ecuador had won 4 World Cup Qualifiers in a row, but the momentum has been lost over the last three weeks.
Peru
Three years ago Peru were playing in the 2018 World Cup, but they have made a poor start to the World Cup Qualifiers in South America and are already chasing the top five teams. However, the last month has been a little more positive all around and Peru have recovered from an opening loss at the Copa America to move into a good spot in this Group.
Facing the top two teams in this Group to open up was always going to make it a difficult start for Peru, but they bounced back from the hammering at the hands of Brazil. A Yerry Mina own goal gave Peru the full three points against Colombia in the second match in the Group and they will now be looking to kick on and try and finish behind Brazil in this section.
Peru had not won any of 8 games overall and had lost 4 World Cup Qualifiers in succession, but snapped that run with a win at Ecuador and have now won 2 of their last 3. They have only lost 3 of their last 13 Copa America ties in regulation time, but all of those Peru losses have come to the same national team- Brazil.
Head to Head
Peru have won 4 of their last 7 games against Ecuador, but had lost 2 in a row before winning a World Cup Qualifier in Quito earlier this month.
Prediction
All of the pressure has shifted to Ecuador after the late goal conceded to Venezuela and they need to take a few risks in order to get back into contention in the Group.
They can't really afford to wait until the final game against Brazil and that may play into Peru's hands.
A win over Colombia means Peru are more likely to progress than not, but they can confirm their place in the Quarter Final if they can avoid a defeat here. They have already beaten Ecuador in Quito this month and I think Peru can at least avoid defeat in this fourth round of Group matches at the Copa America.
The Pick :
Ecuador 1-1 Peru