Surprisingly, the National Team of Colombia lost 0-1 against a Ecuador at the Metropolitan Stadium in Barranquilla and continued to lose positions in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
The Tricolor team did not recover from the poor performance against Uruguay and once again they had a poor performance in some of their players.
The 1×1 for the Colombian National Team
Camilo Vargas:
A game with little involvement in which there was much to see as Ecuador did not make any dangerous moves after the goal. In Enner’s goal Valencia was not committed and could not do much against the cross.
Daniel Muñoz:
In defense he didn’t have much to do and when he was needed he did well. In the offensive aspect he added several overflows, one of which he came close to finishing with a back-to-back cross to the far post that Luis Díaz finished off the post.
Davis Sanchez:
In the first minutes of the first half he looked a little nervous and overwhelmed by Ecuador’s attacks, however, he made a great finish to avoid a 2-0 lead. In goal he was able to stop Valencia’s attack with a foul, but he allowed them to advance without putting up much resistance. After the expulsion of the Ecuadorian player he had a relatively calm game as there were not many counterattacks.
John Lucumi:
He was involved in Enner Valencia’s goal with a very soft mark, allowing the Ecuadorian to enter his zone without much resistance. After the score they had a relatively quiet night, with few attacks from Ecuador.
Johan Mojica:
Another of those who was in danger in the Ecuadorian goal, because he did not reach a shared pass from Richard Ríos and could not recover to reach his zone and try to end the overflow of Ecuador. On the offensive side he had some good appearances, working in tandem with Luis Díaz and James Rodríguez. Jhon Córdoba emerged with one of the first approaches in Colombia which, unfortunately, did not end well.
Richard Rios:
A very irregular start to the game where they didn’t contribute much in defense, allowing the Ecuadorians to pass easily through midfield. He is involved in Ecuador’s goal by mishandling the ball after a throw-in. On the offensive side he had several appearances with a shot inside the area that went slightly over the crossbar. It also caused an attack with a taquito that ended with Luis Díaz being shot.
At the beginning of the first half it was difficult for them to go against the attacks of Ecuador, who took control of the ball in the middle of the field, taking advantage of the bad marking of the Colombians. After the expulsion of the Ecuadorians, driving the ball improved, connecting and finding spaces for those who were forward to generate dangerous actions.
John Arias:
Another game to forget for the midfielder who at the start of the first half was overwhelmed by Ecuador’s physical display, with little help in marking, which left the Ecuadorians half of the field. On the offensive side he had some positive actions with an assist to Jhon Córdoba which ended with a shot and a great intervention from the Ecuadorian goalkeeper. He had one of the clearest chances for Colombia, entering the area and taking a shot that was saved by goalkeeper Galíndez.
Luis Diaz:
Another game where decision making was your worst enemy. He did damage in the left lane but didn’t finish the plays in a good way, always trying to do the solo thing. Tuco one of the clearest opportunities for Colombia with a header that crashed into the Ecuadorian goalkeeper’s right hand position.
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James Rodriguez:
At the beginning of the game he was not noticed, but after the expulsion of the Ecuadorian players he started in the center of the arena, appearing especially on the left lane, in collaboration with Luis Díaz. He was always important in taking free kicks and corners. He made a perfect assist for Jhon Córdoba, but the attacker did not know how to define with the goal in hand. A free kick shot ended up in the gloves of the Ecuador goalkeeper and goalkeeper Galíndez again deflected another shot from outside the area.
Another game to forget for the Krasnodar attacker who had two clear chances to score and did not define properly. Córdoba missed a very low goal that he only had to push the ball. Minutes later, he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he managed to get a shot, but it went into Galíndez’s hand.
In the collective game he played a good game, almost always winning direct duels against the Ecuadorian defenders and creating space for his teammates to get into the goal position. It really helped Jhon Arias get in through the right lane and be close to the tie.
He came on in the second half to try and tie the game, he had a few touches, but they weren’t enough to change the course of the game.
He entered the second half with the objective of helping the attack and finding the equalizer for Colombia. He managed to take a shot from outside the area which ended up in the gloves of the Ecuadorian goalkeeper. He was reprimanded and will miss the match against Brazil.
How can the Colombian National Team improve their gameplay for future qualifying matches?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Soccer Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome to this special edition of our sports interview segment. Today, we have with us soccer analyst and former player, Claudia Torres, to discuss the recent disappointing performance of the Colombian National Team in their World Cup Qualifier against Ecuador. Claudia, thank you for joining us.
Claudia Torres: Thank you for having me! It’s unfortunate to talk about such a disappointing match for Colombia, but I’m here to break it down.
Editor: Absolutely. The match ended with a 1-0 loss for Colombia at home in Barranquilla. What do you think was the main factor that led to this defeat?
Claudia: There were a few contributing factors, but the lack of cohesion and effective defense was glaring. For instance, the goal scored by Enner Valencia came from a soft marking by John Lucumí. When you’re fighting for qualification, mistakes at this level are costly.
Editor: Speaking of individual performances, Camilo Vargas appeared to have a lackluster game with little involvement. How critical was that for the team?
Claudia: It was definitely a pivotal moment. Vargas couldn’t intervene meaningfully against the goal, and his overall minimal involvement may have affected the team’s morale. A goalkeeper’s ability to command the area is key, especially when the defense struggles.
Editor: Defensively, there were mixed reviews for players like Daniel Muñoz and Johan Mojica. Daniel offered some offensively but faced issues in defense. Can a player excel in one aspect while severely lacking in another?
Claudia: That’s the complexity of being a fullback. You need to balance both defensive duties and offensive contributions. While Muñoz had moments of brilliance in attack, if he can’t maintain solid defensive shape, it can create vulnerabilities, which we saw against Ecuador.
Editor: Right. And let’s touch on Luis Díaz’s performance. He had several scoring opportunities but failed to convert. How much does individual pressure play into such high-stakes matches?
Claudia: Individual pressure can be immense. Díaz is a player relied upon to create and finish chances. When a player is used to being the difference-maker, missing chances can weigh heavily on their confidence. This could also lead to poor decision-making, as we saw in the game.
Editor: The midfield also looked unbalanced, with Richard Ríos being described as ‘very irregular’ in his contributions. What do you think the midfield’s role should be in these qualifiers?
Claudia: The midfield is the engine of any team. They need to control the tempo, support both defense and attack, and maintain possession. Ríos’s inability to do this effectively allowed Ecuador’s midfield to dominate the game. This is something Colombia must address moving forward.
Editor: Given these observations, what do you think Colombia needs to do to bounce back in the qualifiers?
Claudia: They need a solid game plan going into the next matches. The coaching staff should emphasize tactical discipline and communication among players. Additionally, they need to address individual performances and perhaps rethink player selections based on recent forms. A regrouping period is essential for building confidence and teamwork.
Editor: Great insights, Claudia. It’s clear there is work to be done as they aim for a successful run in the qualifiers. Thank you for your expertise today.
Claudia: Thank you for having me! Let’s hope the team can turn things around in their next fixture.