MATCH 15 PREVIEW : MEXICO SPARE FIRST-CHOICE PLAYERS AGAINST ECUADOR

Leaders of Group B, on 4 points, alongside Uruguay, Mexico will take to the field today, at 7:45 pm local time, to face Uruguay with a mixed team. The fixture to be held at the Miguel Grau stadium, in Piura, north coast of Peru, is being seen as an opportunity for the Mexicans to spare their starting players who have been yellow-carded, the likes of Pardo, Marquez, Osorio and Carmona, besides Borgetti, who traveled to Mexico for his sister´s funeral.

Mexico¿s Argentinean-born coach, Ricardo Lavople, doesn´t want to choose his opponents in the quarterfinals, and isn¿t concerned about ending the first phase as leaders of Group B, which also boasts Uruguay and Argentina. So, his side will be changed in relation to the team who beat the Argentineans 1-nil in the second round. In defence, Suarez replaces Rafael Marquez and Osorno substitutes Ramon Morales. In midfield, Palencia takes Osorio´s place. In attack, Bautista replaces Borgetti.

On the nearly eliminated Ecuador, the news is the permanence of coach Hernan Dario Gomez. After offering to leave his job following the 6-1 trouncing at the hands of Argentina, in the opening game, the manager has been confirmed at the helm of the national team by the President of the Ecuadorian Football Federation, Luis Chiriboga. According to the official, coach Bolillo was hired to take Ecuador to their second consecutive World Cup Qualifiers and not to win the Copa América.

Mexico and Ecuador have met twice in the history of the Copa América. The first time, in 1993, in the city of Quito, Ecuador, Mexico were 2-nil victors. Four years later, in Cochabamba, Bolivia, they drew 1 apiece, in the quarterfinals. In the penalty shootout, the Mexicans won 4-3.

Mexico: Oswaldo Sanches, Héctor Altamirano, Cláudio Suárez, Duílio Davino and Gabriel Briseño; Geraldo Torrado, Octavio Valdéz, Daniel Osorno and Francisco Palencia; Adolfo Bautista and Jaime Lozano. Coach: Ricardo Lavolpe

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

Venue: Miguel Grau Stadium (Piura-PER)

Referee: Eduardo Lecca (PER)

Assistant Referees: Juan Sulca (PER) and Placido Chuello (VEN)

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