Enner Valencia’s two first-half goals led Ecuador to a dominant 2-0 victory over Qatar as the home nation froze on their big night with an error-strewn display that left them as the first World Cup hosts to lose their opening game.
Valencia, who had already had a third-minute header ruled out by VAR for offside, slotted in the tournament’s opening goal from the penalty spot in the 16th minute after being brought down by nervous-looking goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb.
He powered home a 31st-minute header for the second and the South Americans then cruised home as an outclassed Qatar struggled to mount any meaningful attacks and had only a fluffed header by Almoez Ali to show for their limited efforts.
The other teams in Group A, Senegal and the Netherlands, meet in one of three games on Monday.
It was an easy victory in the end of Ecuador.
They’ve got some points on the board early and their encounter with whichever team loses out of Senegal and the Netherlands tomorrow will be a cracker.
That win will put some confidence into the South American side.
Full-time: Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
90+5 mins: There’s the full-time whistle! Ecuador triumph in the opening encounter of the 2022 World Cup. They did the business in an energetic first half that blew the host nation away.
Two goals and one disallowed from captain Enner Valencia put them comfortably ahead and Qatar had no answer. They become the first host nation to lose the opening game of the World Cup.
Ecuador move to the top of Group A with three points. The second match in this group takes place tomorrow as Senegal take on the Netherlands.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
90 mins: Five minutes of added time to go. All the Ecuador fans have remained in the stadium and they’re having a blast. It’s going to be an opening day victory for the team from South America.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
88 mins: Plata delivers a corner for Ecuador but doesn’t beat the first defender, Al-Rawi, who smokes a headed clearance out of the box.
The Qatari defender has had a decent game. He’s given it his all out there.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
85 mins: Ecuador create an overload with four players flying up against the final three Qatar defenders.
Sarmiento drives the ball forward and looks to play Estrada in on goal but overhits his pass into the far side of the box and the striker can’t kept the ball alive despite his best efforts.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
82 mins: Close! Ecuador almost have a third as Jeremy Sarmiento gets the ball 12 yards out from goal before sidefooting a shot over the crossbar.
He collapses to the ground with his head in his hands due to the miss but the offside flag goes up which means it wouldn’t have counted anyway.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
79 mins: Ecuador’s captain Enner Valencia pulls up once again and coach Gustavo Alfaro decides that enough is enough. He brings on Jose Cifuentes for the last 10-15 minutes of this World Cup opener.
Ecuador look very comfortable. As it stands they heading to the top of Group A.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
76 mins: Here we go. A nice move from Qatar sees them work the ball quickly down the left wing before passing it up to Akram Afif. He rolls the ball onto his right foot and lets fly from about 25-yards.
There’s a loud roar of excitement as the ball rises over the crossbar but it’s another sign of life from Qatar.
Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
73 mins: It’s a double substitution for Qatar now as Mohammed Muntari and Mohammed Waad replace captain Hassan Al-Haydos and Almoez Ali.
Almoez Ali had the home side’s best chance of the night in the first half but headed his effort wide. They haven’t come close to creating anything else since.
