Enner Valencia put in an outstanding first half show as Ecuador comfortably beat hosts Qatar 2-0 in the 2022 Fifa World Cup opening match on the Al Bayt Stadium.
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The Ecuador captain had an early aim disallowed however then netted twice because the South American facet ran Qatar ragged, particularly in the opening 45 minutes.
Valencia limped from the sphere with about quarter-hour left, and Ecuador will hope that their skipper and talisman will not be too significantly injured.
Qatar, in the meantime, provided little to recommend they may get out of Group A, barely threatening their opponent’s aim, and are the primary host nation to lose their opening match at a Fifa World Cup finals.
The hosts got an enormous reprieve in simply the third minute as goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb made a hash of a clearance from a free kick, Felix Torres acrobatically turned the ball throughout aim and Valencia headed in from shut vary.
But after a prolonged VAR examine, the aim was dominated out for offside.
Ecuador’s all-time main goalscorer was to not be denied, nonetheless, as he gained a penalty, after being introduced down by a slipshod challenged from Alsheeb, who had a horrible begin to the match.
The 33 year-old picked himself up and simply transformed the spot kick, to present Ecuador a 16th minute lead.
And Valencia added one other in the 32nd minute, heading in brilliantly from Angelo Preciado’s positive cross.
Qatar created just about nothing till the final seconds of the primary half, once they actually ought to have pulled one again, however Almoez Ali inexplicably headed Hassan Alhaydos’ cross vast from about two metres out.
Ecuador continued to dominate in the second half and Alsheeb lastly produced a save in the fifty fifth minute, doing nicely to cease Renato Ibarra’s effort.
With ten minutes left, the Qatar goalkeeper additionally needed to race off his line to disclaim the excellent Gonzalo Plata., in an improved show after the break.
Qatar substitute Mohammed Muntari broke free in the 86th minute and crashed a shot simply over the bar, however it wasn’t to be for the host nation.
Qatar’s subsequent recreation is in opposition to Senegal on Friday, whereas Ecuador tackle the Netherlands on the identical day.
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