Ecuador vs. Brazil live score, updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup qualifier

Ecuador and Brazil have been two of the best teams in South American World Cup qualifying, but they’ll be motivated by very different objectives when they meet on Thursday at the Casa Blanca (Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado) in Quito.

Brazil (1st, 35 points) has already clinched one of the four direct berths to Qatar 2022 that are on offer in South America. Now the five-time world champs want to maintain their place as the region’s top-performing team during qualifying and keep their undefeated record intact. The match is a chance to fine-tune the squad with 10 months until the World Cup and give an opportunity to other players.

Ecuador (3rd, 23 points) can’t take its foot off the pedal. La Tri is in a strong position to clinch a spot in Qatar and a win at home against Brazil would bring it that much closer with only three matches remaining. It would mark Ecuador’s fourth World Cup berth in the last six editions.

Sporting News will be following the World Cup qualifier live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

Ecuador vs. Brazil live score

Goals:
BRA — Casemiro — 5th min.

(All times Eastern)

33rd min.: SUB — Brazil brings on Dani Alves to play right back, and he replaces Philippe Coutinho. It’s the 120th cap for Alves.

31st min.: Common sense prevails after VAR. The Colombian head referee, Wilmar Roldan, checks it on the monitor and gives Alisson a yellow and rescinds the red card previously shown.

26th min.: A third red card! Alisson is now out. The Liverpool goalkeeper comes off his line, kicks the ball away and then that leg strikes Enner Valencia on the follow through. This one seems harsh. Brazil is down to nine men. Wild start.

20th min.: The referee just handed out another red card! This one goes to Brazil right back Emerson after a wild tackle — high leg between the legs of Ecuador forward Michael Estrada. It was Emerson’s second yellow. He had received his first yellow in the opening minute of the match.

18th min.: SUB — Ecuador brings in Hernan Galindez and take off a midfielder (Alan Franco). And Coutinho sends the free kick opportunity over the bar.

15th min.: What a disastrous start for Ecuador and Dominguez carries the weight of the responsibility here. His studs made their way up into Matheus Cunha’s neck and left a mark.

13th min.: What is Dominguez doing! After that poor play on the Brazil goal, the Ecuador ‘keeper comes off his line and karate kicks Matheus Cunha with a challenge that sent his studs into Cunha’s chest. Dominguez might be sent off. The referee is looking at the monitor now.

12th min.: The Brazil goal sucked the energy out of the half-full stadium. Ecuador has to show some personality to get back into this. Another Brazil goal could really kill the match.

5th min.: Goal Brazil! On the other end the visitors win a corner and after a couple of shots Casemiro cleans up the rebound after a Matheus Cunha header. Ecuador ‘keeper Alexander Dominguez did not command his box well in that instance, beginning with a weak punch-out.

2nd min.: What a chance for Ecuador! After kickoff, Ecuador wins a free kick on the left side and on the set piece Enner Valencia had a free header on goal and incredibly missed the target. He was totally unmarked.

4:01 p.m.: First Coutinho was back starring in the Premier League and now he’s back with Brazil. What a turnaround.

4:00 p.m.: The Casa Blanca is half-full today, but it’s still loud:

3:13 p.m.: A little taste of Quito and the arrival of the home team for the match: 

Ecuador vs. Brazil lineups

Brazil coach Tite is without Neymar, who’s still working on gaining his full fitness from an ankle injury. Lucas Paqueta and Fabinho are suspended and regular right back Danilo wasn’t called up. But when you’re Brazil, you have plenty of backup options: Aston Villa’s Philippe Coutinho and Tottenham’s Emerson Royal are the fill-ins.

Brazil starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Alisson — 6-Alex Sandro, 3-Thiago Silva, 14-Eder Militao, 2-Emerson Royal — 5-Casemiro (capt.), 11-Philippe Coutinho, 8-Fred — 20-Vinicius Jr, 7-Matheus Cunha, 19-Raphinha

Brazil subs (12): 23-Ederson (GK), 12-Weverton (GK), 13-Dani Alves, 16-Alex Telles, 4-Marquinhos, 22-Gabriel, 15-Bruno Guimaraes, 17-Gerson, 10-Everton Ribeiro, 21-Gabriel Barbosa, 18-Antony, 9-Gabriel Jesus

The roster selected by Ecuador coach Gustavo Alfaro features several players who are on the other side of positive COVID-19 tests. Goalkeeper Pedro Ortiz, Jackson Porozo, Jose Cifuentes, Janner Corozo, and Angel Mena did not make the 23-man matchday roster from Ecuador’s expanded roster. Mena was a doubt for a knock picked up during action with his club team Leon. 

Ecuador starting lineup (4-4-2, left to right): 22-Alexander Dominguez (GK) — 7-Pervis Estupinan, 3-Piero Hincapie, 2-Felix Torres, 17-Angelo Preciado — 23-Moises Caicedo, 8-Carlos Gruezo, 21-Alan Franco, 19-Gonzalo Plata — 13-Enner Valencia (capt.), 11-Michael Estrada

Ecuador subs (12): 1-Hernan Galindez (GK), 12-Moises Ramírez (GK), 4-Robert Arboleda, 14-Xavier Arreaga, 5-Diego Palacios, 6-Romario Caicedo, 20-Jhegson Méndez, 16-Michael Carcelen, 10-Joao Rojas, 18-Ayrton Preciado, 15-Djorkaeff Reasco, 9-Jordy Caicedo

How to watch Ecuador vs. Brazil

• Date: Thurs, Jan. 27
• Time: 4 p.m. ET
• TV Channel: —
• Streaming: fuboTV

The South American World Cup qualifiers are available exclusively on fuboTV in the United States.

Ecuador’s Estadio Rodrigo Paz, popularly known as the Casa Blanca, will be at 50 percent capacity for the match after an about-face by local health officials who originally ordered the match to be played without spectators.

Ecuador vs. Brazil betting odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

• Moneyline: Ecuador +245 / Draw +215 / Brazil +130
• Spread: Ecuador +0.5 (-160) / Brazil -0.5 (+125)
• O/U 2.5 total goals: Over +170 / Under -215
• Both Teams To Score: Yes +120 / No -155