MATCH 09 PREVIEW : AGUINAGA BACK ON ECUADOR AGAINST URUGUAY

Midfielder Alex Aguinaga, greatest idol in Ecuadorian football, is the main attraction of his team in the match against Uruguay, this Saturday, which opens the second round of Group B of Copa América. The match will be held at the Elias Aguirre Stadium, in Chiclayo, (north of Peru), at 5:30 pm local time.

Ecuador will be counting on their best player to recover from the disastrous performance on their debut, when they suffered a 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Argentina. Aguinaga will have a more offensive role, playing alongside striker Agustin Delagdo, who scored the consolation last Wednesday. Aguinaga¿s entrance is just one of the changes promoted by coach Hernan Dario Gomez, who threatened to quit after the trouncing, but was convinced by the Ecuadorian Football Federation to carry on the work he began four years ago, the highlight being the qualification to the 2002 World Cup finals.

Delgado is another change. He came on in the second half, but now is a first-choice player ¿ the starting attack on the debut featured Vicente Ambrossi and Ebelio Ordoñez. Midfielder Marlon Ayovi replaces Edison Mendez, who also played in the second half against Argentina.

Uruguay will also be in search of a better result than the one on opening day, when they managed to avoid defeat against Mexico with a last-minute header by defender Montero. However, the starting lineup will be the same.

The difference will be on the substitute bench. Striker Richard Morales, who came on in the second half and was sent off after 2 minutes, will serve his ban. Keeper Sebastian Vieira, from Nacional, will be the shotstopper in place of dismissed Fabian Carini¿s, after Sebastian¿s inclusion was authorised by Conmebol.

Meanwhile, regular Luis Barbat tries to recover from the criticism received for the 2 goals conceded against the Mexicans ¿ both from long distance. The 36-year-old veteran keeper said he¿s not shattered and that he was caught by surprise in both shots.

Uruguay: Luis Barbat - Gustavo Varela, Joe Bizera, Paolo Montero, Darío Rodríguez - Marcelo Sosa, Omar Pouso, Diego Forlán, Cristian Rodriguez - Carlos Bueno and Darío Silva. Coach: Jorge Fossati.

Ecuador: Geovanny Ibarra - Ulises de la Cruz, Iván Hurtado, Giovanny Espinoza, Néicer Reasco - Edwin Tenório, Alfonso Obregón, Cléber Chalá, Edison Méndez - Alex Aguinaga e Agustín Delgado. Coach: Hernán Darío Gómez.

Venue: Elias Aguirre Stadium, in Chiclayo (PER)

Referee: Gustavo Brand (Venezuela)

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