Qatar vs Ecuador LIVE: World Cup 2022 result, final score and reaction as Enner Valencia double downs hosts

Qatar 0-2 Ecuador: Valencia netted twice in the first half as the South Americans outclassed their hosts in the tournament opener

‘Today I feel gay, I feel disabled': Fifa president Gianni Infantino at World Cup

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.

Relive the action with our live blog below.

Qatar vs Ecuador latest updates

• Ecuador beat Qatar 2-0 in the opening game of the World Cup 2022
• Enner Valencia scored twice in the first half as the South Americans outclassed their hosts
• Thousands of fans left the match at half-time and organisational difficulties marred the build-up to the World Cup opener
• 31’ - GOAL! Valencia heads home his second of the game (QAT 0-2 ECU)
• 16’ - GOAL! Valencia wins and converts a penalty for Ecuador (QAT 0-1 ECU)
• 3’ - NO GOAL! Valencia’s finish controversially ruled out by VAR (QAT 0-0 ECU)

[20 November 2022 16:48 · Michael Jones]

Qatar 0-2 Ecuador

45 mins: There’s going to be an additional five minutes to play at the end of the first half. That’s down to the VAR decision and a few minor injuries here and there.

Enner Valencia is back on the pitch and will play on.

[20 November 2022 16:47 · Michael Jones]

Qatar 0-2 Ecuador

43 mins: Oh no. Enner Valencia comes together with Karim Boudiaf and seems to jar his right knee as the Qatar midfielder shrugs him away from the ball.

The Ecuador captain stays down and a stretcher is brought on for him. He waves it away though and is helped off to the side of the pitch for a bit more treatment.

If he needs to go off it’ll be a big blow for the South American side.

[20 November 2022 16:43 · Michael Jones]

Qatar 0-2 Ecuador

40 mins: Homam Ahmed is one of Qatar’s forward men who’s growing increasingly frustrated at Qatar’s lack of possession. He receives a pass and drives down the left wing only to come undone when taking on Angelo Preciado.

Ahmed hits the deck and Preciado laughs at him as the referee waves for play to continue.

[20 November 2022 16:41 · Michael Jones]

Qatar 0-2 Ecuador

37 mins: A worrying sign for Ecuador as Karim Boudiaf hacks down their captain to collect Qatar’s third yellow card of the game. Enner Valencia - scorer of both goals - is back on his feet though and the Ecuadorian captain will play on.

[20 November 2022 16:37 · Michael Jones]

Qatar 0-2 Ecuador

34 mins: Ecuador are two goals to the good and it’s no more than they deserve. They’ve been the better side by far in this opening contest and by the looks of their performance it could be a difficult tournament for Qatar.

(Getty Images)

[20 November 2022 16:33 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Qatar 0-2 Ecuador (Valencia, 31’) ⚽️

31 mins: He’s done it again! Ecuador attack down the right side with Caicedo bringing the ball into the box. He’s forced out wide and slides a pass back to Angelo Preciado who whips a fine cross into the penalty area.

The ball sails over Michael Estrada but drops perfectly for Enner Valencia who guides a powerful header into the nearest bottom corner!

[20 November 2022 16:33 · Michael Jones]

Qatar 0-1 Ecuador

28 mins: Romario Ibarra takes a snapshot from just outside the Qatar penalty area but doesn’t trouble the goalkeeper. It’s a sign of the confidence which Ecuador are playing with though.

The home side restart play and knock it up to Abdelaziz Hatem. He strides into the midfield but is brought down by a lunging Moises Caicedo who clips his back leg.

Caicedo is given a yellow card that he’s not exactly happy about.

[20 November 2022 16:28 · Michael Jones]

Qatar 0-1 Ecuador

25 mins: The main takeaway from these opening 25 minutes is that Ecuador seem too quick for Qatar. They’re moving the ball half a second faster than the Qatari players can react to and as such are winning a lot of the challenges.

Gonzalo Plata drives down the right wing and wants to cut inside but Karim Boudiaf is back to help out for the hosts and a well timed tackle sees him come away with the ball.

[20 November 2022 16:26 · Michael Jones]

Qatar 0-1 Ecuador

22 mins: Qatar have another set piece to defend with Ecuador fizzing a free kick over to the back post. Abdelkarim Hassan rises to head the ball away but the visitors recycle the ball and pick out Estrada on the far side of the area.

He keeps it alive and knocks it down towards Valencia but the hosts manage to scramble it clear.

[20 November 2022 16:23 · Michael Jones]

Qatar 0-1 Ecuador

19 mins: Ecuador have kept a record six consecutive clean sheets in their recent fixtures and now Qatar have to break them down. It’ll be a difficult task.

Pervis Estupinan makes a run down the left wing and brings the ball under control as it comes over the top. The left-back flicks a cross into the area where Michael Estrada looks to meet it with a header.

He collides with the goalkeeper as the ball loops over the crossbar and Qatar are awarded a free kick.