After kicking off their crusade with a 2-0 win over hosts Qatar on Nov. 20, Gustavo Alfaro’s men proved their functionality on opening day by holding the Dutch organization’s favourites for a 1-1 draw days later.
As for Senegal, they rediscovered their quest for a place in the knockout stages last time with a 3-1 win over Qatar thanks to goals from Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhiou and Bamba Dieng.
This follows a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands in their first hosting match last Monday, when Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen scored unusual goals to give the Oranje a good start to the campaign.
With at least one from Qatar and the Netherlands poised to squander trouble in the organization’s other match, Ecuador or Senegal, who have met once in the past, remain to win a place in the knockout stages.
The two teams met in a friendly in May 2002, when Raul Guerrón scored an opposing goal in the 69th minute to give the reigning African Cup of Nations champions a narrow victory.
While Tuesday’s adjustment will be Ecuador’s first against an African country at the World Cup, Aliou Cissé has not won in his last two matches against the South Americans.
Senegal lost to Uruguay in the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, years before Yerry Mina’s 74th-minute goal gave Colombia a 1-0 victory over the Leones de Teranga.
Ecuador wins: 0Senegal wins: 1Empaca: 0Ecuador goals: 0Senegal goals: 1
MATCH HISTORY23 May 2002: Ecuador 0-1 Senegal (International Friendly)