Notes on Ecuador v. Brazil

Some of my notes from Ecuador’s 10-man, 1-2 loss to Brazil in Stockholm. A little raw, but just consider it a…first-draft historical document. Let me know what you all thought.

Pregame

Rasunda Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden; October 10, 2006

This is where Brazil won their only World Cup title on Euroean soil in 1958.
Sold out; mostly rooting for Brazil, in a good natured way.

More spectators here for this match than when Sweden beat Spain over the weekend in a match
that actually meant something. Who knew Giovanny Espinoza was such a draw for the Swedes.

Ecuador in their away blues; Brazil in their familiar yellow kits.

Not the same as the lineups previously announced. For example, Ronaldihno left on the bench.

Announcers: “Brazil has won the past four meetings between these two.” Not so much.

Brazil played 3 nights ago, beating Kuwait 4-0.

Let’s start the match!

0-15 minutes
Sensible ticket prices, the announcers say, helped to sel out the stadium, that and Brazil’s allure.
Quiet crowd at this point. You can hear individual yells.
Brazil controls early.
No face paint for Mora.
Ecuas getting some more control.
First corner to Ecuador. UDLC shot goes wide.
LFS looking dapper as always on the touchline.
E. Tenorio takes down Robinho, but is not interested in the ref’s lecture.
Back and forth now at 7 minutes.
A near goal by Borja at 7:30 on a free kick from Mendez, but Brazil defends nicely at the last
minute.
At 10 min, 2 balls on the pitch; this favors Ecuador, as El Tin can tell you.
10:45 yellow on Mendez. Maybe a weak call, but he was a hint late.
Announcers explain this ref is card-happy at times.
Ambrossi running all over, but to what effect?
Where are you Val (Luis Antonio Valencia)?
Hurtado, still smoove. Nothing rattles him, even a bevy of Brazilian attackers. He may be out of
position from time to time, but he never panics.
Kaka close-range shot stopped easily by Mora.
Robinho with an…interesting…shot at 13:45, saved again by Morita.

15-30 minutes
Val with a great cross; nearly an own goal by Brazil.
A succession of corners to Ecuador, but no harm done to Brazil.
A dust-up at 18:50. Players not happy with one another. Refs chats with Val, and the Robinho.
No cards given.
Scary goalmouth scramble for Ecuador at 20.
Very open play thus far. Hate friendlies that feature cynical walking about.
Fred looking decent up front today. Has quicker turn moves that it would otherwise appear.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAL!!!!!! Borja! El Cangaru de Olympiakos! Off of a great cross by
Mendez. His crosses are deadly! 23rdminute.
The Brazilian ‘keeper nearly clotheslined El Kangaroo; he should have cleared the ball, but Borja’s
not complaining. Only his second international goal.
Elano a well-deserved yellow card for tripping Tenorio after the play was over. With his hands no
less. Fairly clumsy shenanigans.
Pitiful clearing in the 27th minute nearly breaks Ecuador’s defense.
Robinho is one fast dude, but Hurtado brushes him off.
Yellow card for Gilberto Silva in the 28th minute.
Ref getting pretty whistle- and card-happy.
Just as I say it, Val gets a straight red for elbowing Dudu. Dudu had him in a headlock, Val
elbowed to get out of. Dudu makes a meal of it, thrashes about on the pitch. Red from ref. That’s how it played
out. Not the ref’s fault to bring out the red necessarily; he may not have seen the instigation. But surely
there is a ref school that teaches when a player is clearly acting, as here. Ah, well. That’s one way to
ensure a Brazil win. /sour grapes off/

30-45 minutes
Play back on track. The announcers have consigned Val to the Old Bailey, but he was clearly being mauled by Dudu.
A loooong way to go for Ecuador with only 10 men. Can’t imagine them holding.
Tenorio down in the 34th. Stretcher comes out, but ET walks off of the pitch.
Robinho off target at 36. nice shot, though.
Brazil putting a couple of things together. Ecuador shouldn’t sit back too much, however.
Announcers bummed that more Brazil acting didn’t net them a penalty. But I think Elano already used up his good will today by tripping ET so brazenly.
Brazil having the better run of things here at the 40th minute.
56% possession in fact, says the television.
Announcers orgasming at Brazil. Said, “Now they look like the real Brazil!” Really? Up a man? Congrats.
What is Mora doing in the 44th? Weak punches.
Fred gets a GOAL in the 44th minute. 1-1.
Bah. Thought holding on until halftime would be crucial. Too bad Brazil now need such a huge advantage over Ecuador to score these days.

45-60 minutes
Ronaldinho on for Brazil at the start of the second half..
Saritama on for Ecuador.
Brazil having the lion’s share of possession thus far in the half.
Robinho a little knocked up, thanks to ET.
Announcers really dislike ET.
Corner at 54’ for Brazil. Crowd really behind Brazil. Maybe not as much as the announcers, but still. Elano’s shot clears the crossbar.
Brazil looking for an opening in the Ecua defense.
Frankly, it seems more like 12 v. 9 than 11 v. 10. Brazil almost can’t NOT score again.
What is Mora doing with these weak slaps at the ball? He always gives me heartattacks, but not in this precise way.
Wondering if Ambrossi will be subbed. Hint, hint.

60-75 minutes
I saw Ronaldinho enter the game, but where is he?
The ads running in the stadium are in Portuguese. Thought you should know.
On those Blue unis: not bad. Like the yellow home kit, they look better in motion that they do at rest. Let’s put it that way.
Borja out for Zura at 63.
Ronaldinho clips ET (I think). The announcers note that ET is acting, which seems to be the case, but they seems to miss it when Brazil does.
Again calling ET a nuisance.
Espinoza whacked but okay.
Mora “for once hangs on” say the announcers.
Sort of surprised Brazil isn’t attacking more fiercely, but Ronaldinho seems to be going through the motions here.
At 69 minutes, we’re still 1-1.
Ok, announcers, we get it: you hate ET. Geesh.
Nice Mendez cross, but nobody home at 70’.
Ambrossi is trying, but he’s not quite up to the challenge I think.
Ecuador clearly looking for the draw at this point, but you know what that usually means.
Kaka off the bar, then Mora makes a save.
Kaka finally gets one over on a GOAL made by Ronaldinho. 74th minute. 1-2 Brazil.

75-90 minutes
Some nuts run out onto the field in celebration. I think.
Ecuador cannot compete with Brazil at a man disadvantage.
At 77, Mendez comes off for Urrutia. I’d say that’s a big drop off, but no one’s looking for offense now anyway.
The crowd is super psyched that Brazil is leading. They seemed to be having gay old time of it, getting their Euros worth.
Ronaldinho just misses on a free kick.
Fred off for Sobis of Real Betis.
Robinho gets a yellow for tripping UDLC. Of course the announcers are appalled that a card was given. Can’t the Ref see he plays for Brazil?!
Ecuador playing Brazil tougher than Argentina did last month, I can say that for sure.
Montano on for ET at 82’.
Announcers say Brazil deserves more than a 2-1 win.
Free kick for Brazil at 85’. Very close in, center of the goalmouth. Can Mora stop it? It hits the bar and we’ll never know. Announcers said Mora was “nowhere near it” which is disproved immediately by the replay.
UDLC with a decent chance at 89’, but saved easily.
Elano off for Mineiro in the 90th.
Free kick for Ecuador in stoppage time, but another intruder or two charges on to the pitch. Wearing Ronaldinho strips of course. The cops are hauling ‘em off, laughing. Ah Scandanavia.
No harm done, and that’s it.

Ecuador 1-2 Brazil.