Ecuador defeats Qatar in World Cup opener, 2-0
The hosts of World Cup 2022 Qatar were bested in their debut, losing to Ecuador 2-0.
Ecuador did all its scoring in the first half. And it was Enner Valencia who netted both goals for La Tri. Valencia converted a penalty in the 15th minute. Then he got his second later in the half, with an elegant header that found the bottom left corner of Qatar’s goal.
The hosts struggled to come up with offense in the match. Qatar fired five shots at Ecuador’s goal with none hitting the target.
Next up for Ecuador is the Netherlands on Friday. Qatar will meet Senegal in its second group-stage match, on Friday as well.
Here are the matches slated for tomorrow at World Cup 2022:
- England vs. Iran
- Senegal vs. Netherlands
- USA vs. Wales
Empty seats as Ecuador dominates Qatar with ease
All the excitement pre-match is slowly draining away from the stadium and there are noticeably more empty seats than in the first half.
Qatar has looked particularly nervous throughout and can’t seem to string any passes together. It seems like the occasion got to be too much for them, and some fans have had enough.
We still have the Ecuadorian contingent making a lot of noise in their striking yellow shirts as they try, over and over, to start “the wave.” Qatar’s fans don’t seem up for it, though.
Captain and goalscorer Enner Valencia has been notably better than anyone else on the pitch. This appears to be fading away into a comfortable Ecuador win.
Can the hosts mount a comeback? Judging by what I’ve seen so far, I wouldn’t count on it.
Ecuador coasting with a 2-0 lead in the 2nd half
Ecuador maintains its two-goal advantage over Qatar more than halfway through the second half.
La Tri has been in control the whole match. Ecuador has taken five shots, with three of them on goal.
Qatar has struggled to create offense in their first-ever World Cup match. The hosts have managed just three shots, none on goal.
Ecuador 2, Qatar 0.
The second half begins in the World Cup opener between Ecuador and Qatar
The second half has begun in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup featuring Ecuador and host country Qatar.
Ecuador takes a 2-0 lead over Qatar into the second half. No host country has lost a World Cup opener (16 wins, 6 draws, 2002 had two hosts). Ecuador is unbeaten in its last seven matches (2 wins, 5 draws).
Qatar is making its World Cup debut. Ecuador is making its fourth World Cup appearance.
Ecuador is rolling. Up 2-0 over Qatar at the half
Ecuador is dominating the host country in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup.
Ecuador appeared to take a very early lead when they found the back of the Qatar net in the 3rd minute. But the goal was ruled out after a check by the video-assisted referee (VAR) deemed an Ecuadorian player offside.
La Tri was not deterred by the call, however. In the 15th minute, Ecuador’s Enner Valencia won a penalty when he was taken down in the box by the Qatar goaltender, Saad Al Sheeb. Valencia stepped up to the spot and converted the penalty, giving his squad a 1-0 lead.
Just a quarter-hour later, Valencia scored his second of the match in the 31st minute with a glancing header into the bottom left corner of Qatar’s net.
Ecuador goes into the break in the opening match up 2-0 on the hosts.
Ecuador makes it 2-0 over Qatar in the 1st half
Ecuador’s Enner Valencia got his second goal of the match with a glancing header into the bottom left corner of Qatar’s net.
Ecuador now has a commanding lead over the host country. They lead Qatar 2-0 in the first half.
Ecuador takes the lead 1-0 on a penalty
Ecuador was awarded a penalty in the 15th minute of the opening match against Qatar.
Enner Valencia converted from the spot with a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner to give Ecuador the early 1-0 lead against the host country.
Ecuador has an early goal ruled out
Ecuador appeared to take the lead against Qatar inside 3 minutes.
But after a check by the video-assisted referee (VAR), an Ecuador player was ruled offside and the goal was disallowed.
FIFA World Cup kicks off with Qatar vs Ecuador match
The match at the Al Bayt Stadium between Qatar and Ecuador has begun.
The stadium, which has a capacity of 60,000, is in Al Khor City, which is about 35 kilometers (18 miles) from central Doha.
Host nation Qatar is making its World Cup debut. Ecuador is making its fourth World Cup appearance.
No host country has lost a World Cup opener (16 wins, 6 draws, 2002 had two hosts). Ecuador is unbeaten in its last seven matches (2 wins, 5 draws).
The 29-day tournament is the first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Middle East.
The 22nd edition of football’s flagship event concludes Dec. 18.
