Ecuador’s national team beat Qatar 2-0 in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup, played at the Al Bayt stadium in Doha, and Qatar became the first host in the history of the World Cup to lose the opening game.
The game started busy. After a ball in the area, striker Enner Valencia scored, but the goal was canceled by VAR. With Ecuador dominating the action, it didn’t take long for the South American team to take the lead.
At 16 minutes, Valencia was brought down in the area by goalkeeper Saad Al-Sheeb, a penalty for Ecuador. The number 13 hit and opened the scoring. The second goal came in the 32nd minute, after a cross in the area, again Valencia rose higher than the hosts’ defense and extended the scoreboard.
Qatar’s only threat came in the final minutes of the first half. Al-Haydos crossed in the small area and Almoez Ali headed close to the left post of the opposing goal.
The second half was no different from the first. Ecuador remained dangerous, but lowered its lines and was prepared to ‘kill’ the game on the counterattack. The match went without much emotion and ended 2-0.
With the victory, Ecuador assumes the leadership of Group A and Qatar is the red light, Netherlands and Senegal will face each other on Monday, 21st, at 1pm in Angola in the other group match.
