Ecuador will test the substitutes for Pervis Estupiñán, Diego Palacios and Ángel Mena in the friendly against Mexico

Ecuador’s coach, Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, will test players in the friendly match next Wednesday against Mexico in the American city of Charlotte (North Carolina), in preparation for the qualifying rounds of the Qatar 2022 World Cup in November.

Alfaro will look for replacement figures for defenders Pervis Estupiñán, Diegos Palacios and attacker Ángel Mena, suspended a game each by accumulating yellow cards.

This as part of their strategy to assemble the main team with a view to the confrontations against Venezuela, in Quito, and against Chile, in Santiago, from next November 11, for the qualifying rounds.

Ecuador occupies third place in the standings of the South American qualifiers, with 17 points, but with immediate pressure from Colombia and Uruguay, with 16 units each.

In the first leg against Venezuela, on October 10, Ecuador lost 2-1, which sparked criticism and reactions against coach Alfaro, and also for the previous draw, without goals, against Chile, in Quito, the September 5.

The coach will test the left defenders in the position of Estupiñán and Palacios Christian Cruz (Quito League) and Luis Segovia (Independent of the Valley).

Likewise, they are on the Mena replacement list: Alexander Alvarado (Orlando City-United States) and Janner corozo (Dolphin).

They will also enter the list of possible goalkeepers called Hernan Galindez (Catholic University), recovered from an injury; Jorge Pinos, which shines with October 9 (second in Ecuador’s ranking) and Jose Gabriel Cevallos, a starter with youth teams, but whose great performances with Olmedo have not been enough to prevent his team from losing the category in the national tournament.

Alfaro will also have the attackers who are active in Mexican soccer Michael Estrada (Toluca), one of the scorers of the current qualifying rounds, and the winger Romario Ibarra (Pachuca).

Also trying to be in the squad for the first time are midfielders Julio Joao Ortiz and Janner Corozo, from Delfín; October midfielder Danny Cabezas; defenders Joshue Quiñónez (Barcelona), Marlon Mejía (Emelec) and Andrés López (Catholic University).

Among the midfielders who will also take advantage of the occasion are Johnny Quiñónez (Aucas), Michael Carcelén (Barcelona), and the attackers Walter Chalá (Universidad Católica); Nilson Angulo and Djorkaeff Reasco (Quito League).

While the right defender of Independiente del Valle, José Hurtado, who made a poor debut against Chile, will continue within the team. (D)