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Watch Ecuador Vs. Uruguay Live Stream, 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier Round 1

By Patricia Didelot
Published on: 05:18 PST, Nov 12, 2015

Watch Ecuador vs. Uruguay live stream in 2018 World Cup qualifier Round 1 action on Thursday, November 12, from Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa in Quito, Ecuador.

Ecuador has surprised everyone by beating a Lionel Messi-less Argentina in Buenos Aires during the first round of the 2018 World Cup qualifier and, later, a less dangerous Bolivia. Both teams have not allowed a single goal during this first phase of the qualifier and, along with Copa America champs Chile, are becoming the teams to beat.

It will be interesting to see how these two teams adjust to face-off on Thursday, but Ecuador has the advantage of playing at home in Quito, which is always complicated for visitors, as it sits at 9,350 feet in the Andes Mountains. But both teams will have obstacles to overcome on Thursday in Quito.

Ecuador is missing West Ham forward Enner Valencia after he picked up an ankle injury over the weekend and will have to adjust in the absence of Antonio Valencia. All eyes will be on Jaime Ayovi, who is expected to carry the offense for La Tri but has not responded as fans expected him to.

When you watch Ecuador vs. Uruguay live stream, you will see how Ecuador manager Gustavo Quinteros decides to play this match against an Uruguay that will see the return of Edinson Cavani, who was serving a suspension. Ever since the retirement of World Cup star Diego Forlan, La Celeste has struggled to find a leader in Cavani.

Since Uruguay’s untimely exit from the 2014 World Cup and the ugly incident between Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara and Cavani (you remember the one) in the Copa America, things have not gone well for the one-time great team. Despite attempts from reporters to revisit the ugly Copa America incident, Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez said that he will not discuss the altercation in order to keep the players focused, according to Goal.com.

On paper, Ecuador has an advantage because they have faced tougher opponents including Argentina, but anything can happen in Quito. Quinteros has to decide what he will do about Valencia’s absence, and reports suggest he will have to find a player to cover the right side of the pitch.

“I will have to decide between players who have played that position before, including Fidel Martínez y Ángel Mena who have already done so.” Quinteros said, according to Estadio.

If you watch Ecuador vs. Uruguay live stream, you will see if Ecuador can continue its impressive campaign against Uruguay. However, La Celeste has a historic advantage as one the top teams in South America and is a two-time World Cup champion, though that was in the early to mid part of the 20th century, most notably at the Maracanazo in 1950.

When Ecuador and Uruguay last met in October 2013, Jefferson Montero scored the only goal of the match. Things have certainly changed since the time Ecuador was at the bottom of the group.

When the groups for the 2018 World Cup were announced, all the talk was about Brazil and whether they would recover from their disastrous 2014 World Cup and disappointing 2016 Copa America. Now, after lackluster performances from all the top teams, including World Cup darling Colombia, things have certainly changed, and two of the most exciting teams of the qualifiers will face off to see who will stay atop their group.

Watch Ecuador vs. Uruguay live stream here from Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa. Kick-off is at 4 p.m. ET.

[Photo by Matthias Hangst, Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images]

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