ECUDORIAN TEAM

World Cup Homepage | View Group Tables | Week 1 | Week 2


Goalkeepers

1-Jose Cevallos (Barcelona, Ecuador) Born: 17.4.71
Cevallos has been Ecuador's first choice goalkeeper for several years. Safe and competent though weak on crosses, he provides a generally calming influence over his defence. Has spent his entire career with Barcelona, helping them reach the Libertadores Cup final in 1998.

12-Oswaldo Ibarra (El Nacional) Born: 8.9.69
Second choice goalkeeper, he is more flamboyant and spectacular than Cevallos but is also more prone to blunders and more temperamental.

22-Daniel Viteri (Emelec) 12.12.81.
Young goalkeeper who has made his name with one of Ecuador's most popular clubs at the age of 20 and has already gained experience in the South American Libertadores Cup.

Defenders

15-Marlon Ayovi (Deportivo Quito) Born: 27.9.71
Reserve defender who can play in either full-back position. He was the left-back early in the campaign but then lost his place to Raul Guerron.

6-Raul Guerron (Deportivo Quito) Born: 12.10.76
Established himself as the successor to veteran Luis Capurro in the second half of the campaign, plugging what had been a big hole on the left side of the defence. Has a powerful, if erratic, shot, and is physically strong.

4-Ulises de la Cruz (Hibernian) Born: 8.2.74
Right-back whose penetrating runs provide one of Ecuador's most dangerous attacking options. Especially threatening when cutting inside, he scored a spectacular goal in the 3-2 defeat away to Brazil. Played in all 18 qualifiers.

2-Augusto Porozo (Emelec) Born: 13.4.74
Porozo began the qualifiers as first-choice central defender but lost his place after receiving the second of two red cards in the 2-1 win over Paraguay. Likely to be a substitute.

17-Geovanny Espinoza (Aucas) Born: 12.4.77
Tall central defender who has gone some way to help solving Ecuador's aerial vulnerability after replacing Porozo for the latter stages of the qualifying campaign

3-Ivan Hurtado (Barcelona, Ecuador) Born: 16.8.74.
A classy central defender who has been a regular in the team since the mid 1990s. Composed with good anticipation and timing, has captained the team on several occasions, can also play in midfield.

8-Luis Gomez (Barcelona, Ecuador) Born: 20.5.72
Tends to be brought on late in the game on the right side of defence or midfield. Scored his only goal in the 5-1 win away to Bolivia only minutes after coming on. Probably a substitute at the finals.

23-Walter Ayovi (Emelec) Born: 11.8.79
Left-sided player, can play either in midfield or as a full-back. He has made his comeback after serving a six-month ban imposed after it was discovered he was three years younger than he had originally claimed.

Midfielders
10-Alex Aguinaga (Necaxa) Born: 9.7.68

Aguinaga has been a world class player for a decade and is set to crown his career by captaining his country at their first World Cup. An elegant player with outstanding control and vision, always a step ahead of the opposition. A knee injury kept him out of the side late in the qualifiers.

5-Alfonso Obregon (LDU Quito) Born: 12.5.72
Defensive midfielder who was a regular in the qualifiers and is a key member of the team. Tall, strong and tough in the tackle, though he can look somewhat clumsy in possession.

16-Cleber Chala (El Nacional) Born: 29.6.71
Experienced attacking midfielder, who is often to be found in a wide position. A regular fixture in the team early in the campaign, he has more recently seen his place come under threat from Edison Mendez.

19-Edison Mendez (Deportivo Quito) Born: 16.3.79
All-round midfielder who won his place during the qualifying campaign, making his mark with an outstanding performance in the crucial 2-1 win away to Peru - even though he got sent off late in the game.

20-Edwin Tenorio (Barcelona, Ecuador) Born: 16.6.76
Usually to be found alongside Obregon in front of the defence attempting to break up the opposition's attacks. Sometimes goes over the top and rarely gets through a game without picking up a yellow card.

14-Juan Carlos Burbano (El Nacional) Born: 15.2.69
Defensive midfielder who stepped in during the qualifiers when Obregon was injured or suspended.

21-Wellington Sanchez (Emelec) Born: 19.6.74
Tough midfielder who usually wins a place on the substitutes' bench. His vigorous approach earned him a red card against Paraguay during the qualifiers.

7-Nicolas Asencio (Barcelona, Ecuador) Born: 26.4.75
Was in the Barcelona team which reached the 1998 Libertadores Cup final. Has also played in Mexico, Argentina and Colombia.

Forwards
11-Agustin Delgado (Southampton) Born: 23.12.74

The hero of Ecuador's qualification with nine goals. Nicknamed "El Tin", Delgado is a physically strong player. Looks clumsy but appearances can be deceptive and has good control in tight spaces. Joined Southampton last season from Mexico's Necaxa.

13-Angel Fernandez (El Nacional) Born: 2.8.71
Made several substitute appearances during the qualifiers and often made a difference, especially against Chile when he provided the cross for the only goal of the game. Usually to be found on the right, he is an excellent crosser of the ball. His international career goes back to the 1993 Copa America, where Ecuador's fourth-placed finish was their best-ever.

18-Carlos Tenorio (Deportivo Quito) Born: 14.5.79
Made his international debut in the last game of the qualifying campaign against Chile and was then given a run at the Gold Cup. Physically strong, his good form in the Ecuadorean championship could earn him a place on the bench at the least. Scored the winner in the February friendly against Turkey.

9-Ivan Kaviedes (Barcelona, Ecuador) Born: 24.10.77
Scored a record 43 goals in one season with Emelec, quickly moving to Europe where he failed to secure a first team place at several clubs. Scored the goal which earned a 1-1 draw at home to Uruguay and clinched Ecuador's historic qualification.