Valencia still sidelined for Brazil decider
Reuters - Tuesday 12 July 2011, 00:12
CORDOBA - Ecuador's leading player
Antonio Valencia will miss their final Copa America Group B
match against Brazil on Wednesday after failing to recover in
time from an ankle injury, team doctors said on Monday.
It could be Ecuador's last match of the tournament in
Argentina. They are bottom of the group one point behind Brazil
and Paraguay and three adrift of surprise leaders Venezuela.
"Valencia still has a lot of pain in his left ankle," team
physiotherapist Tony Ocampo told reporters at Ecuador's training
session in Cordoba and doctor Patricio Maldonado confirmed the
verdict on the winger.
The Manchester United player was trod on by an opponent
during Ecuador's opening 0-0 draw with Paraguay in Santa Fe and
also missed their second match, Saturday's 1-0 upset by
Venezuela.
Valencia, replaced by Michael Arroyo against Venezuela,
suffered severe bruising in the same place where he had surgery
last year after breaking and dislocating his ankle during a
Champions League match with United.
Ecuador face Brazil on Wednesday at the
Mario Alberto Kempes stadium where the Brazilians drew 2-2 with
Paraguay on Saturday.