Emelec host Sporting Cristal at the Estadio George Capwel in the Copa Sudamericana knockout round playoffs on Thursday early morning. Emelec picked up a massive 1-0 victory in the first leg of the Round 32 Copa Sudamericana tie against Peruvian Sporting Cristal seven days ago in Lima. It was a subpar match with very few goal-scoring chances for either side as the main happenings occurred at the center of the park. The game was punctuated by rowdiness that led to eight yellow cards, including one for Cristal’s coach Nunes. The Ecuadorian team played much like a home side against Sporting. They took the fight most times to the opponent’s half, which largely helped in defending their lone-goal lead. They are likely to replicate same strategy in this second leg. However, Sporting Cristal are coming into this game off of a league win they secured over the weekend when they beat Mannucci 3-2 to bounce back from the first leg cup loss to their current opponents. For this encounter, I am expecting a win or a draw for the away side for the following reasons:

Firstly. CS Emelec had a dismal campaign in the Ecuadorian Primera A Apertura season, finishing it as low as 13th with just three wins in 15 matches. They have so far won only three of their last 14 games in all competitions. I can argue that the last week’s victory over Sporting Cristal was not a very much deserved one either. However, they have got some decent results recently; their three wins from the last 14 came in their last six games while recording only a loss during the same period. They may just have enough in their tanks to hold off Sporting Cristal for a draw.

Secondly. The Peruvian outfit were outstanding and left a great impression in the group phase of Copa Libertadores. They pushed the likes of River Plate and Fluminense, two of the continent’s heavyweights, to the limits, finishing the so called group of death just two points behind them. Sporting Cristal have also got off to a good start to the Clausura campaign in the Peruvian top flight, winning three and drawing one of the opening four games scoring eight goals while conceding two along the way.

Sporting Cristal will take confidence from their impressive away record heading into the game in Ecuador. They are unbeaten in nine games on the road, recording five wins. However, Emelec have not suffered defeat in five games at their home ground, but recording mostly draws (four draws). Sporting Cristal have what it takes to come away unbeaten in Ecuador, and I will be putting my money on them for a win or a draw.

周四凌晨，南美杯淘汰赛将在乔治·卡维尔球场举行，埃米莱克将主场迎战水晶体育。七天前在利马举行的南美杯第32轮比赛中，埃米莱克队在首回合1-0大胜秘鲁水晶竞技队。这是一场不太理想的比赛，双方都很少有进球的机会，因为比赛主要发生在中场。比赛中不时出现骚乱，导致8张黄牌，其中包括克里斯塔尔的教练努内斯。厄瓜多队在与里斯本竞技队的比赛中表现得很像主场。他们大部分时间都是在对手的半场进行战斗，这在很大程度上有助于捍卫他们的单球领先优势。他们很可能在第二回合复制同样的策略。然而，在这场比赛之前，水晶竞技在联赛中取得了一场胜利，他们在周末以3-2击败了曼努奇，从首回合输给对手的局面中恢复过来。对于这场比赛，我希望客场能赢或平，原因如下:

首先。CS Emelec在厄瓜多尔联赛中表现不佳，在15场比赛中仅取得3场胜利，排名第13位。到目前为止，他们在最近的14场比赛中只赢了3场。我可以说上周对水晶竞技的胜利也不是很值得。然而，他们最近取得了一些不错的成绩;在过去的14场比赛中，他们取得了3场胜利，而在过去的6场比赛中，他们只取得了1场失利。他们可能有足够的储备来拖延水晶竞技的平局。

其次。这支秘鲁球队表现出色，在解放者杯小组赛中给人留下了深刻的印象。他们把河床队和弗鲁米嫩塞队这两支欧洲大陆的重量级球队逼到了极限，在所谓的死亡之组中只落后他们两分。在秘鲁顶级联赛的克劳苏拉之旅中，水晶竞技也有一个良好的开端，在开场的四场比赛中，他们取得了三胜一平的成绩，进了8球，丢了2球。

在厄瓜多尔的比赛中，水晶体育将从他们令人印象深刻的客场战绩中获得信心。他们在9场客场比赛中保持不败，取得了5场胜利。但是，在主场的5场比赛中，Emelec没有遭遇过失败，但大部分都是平局(4场平局)。克里斯托体育有能力在厄瓜多尔保持不败，我将把我的钱押在他们赢或平的身上。