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
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.
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Qatar’s dangerman
Almoez Ali is the player Ecuador need to be aware of the most. The striker scored nine goals as Qatar won Asian Cup in 2019 breaking the tournament record set by Iran’s Ali Daei in 1996.
He’ll be looking to impress during this tournament and will want to start strongly tonight.
World Cup opening ceremony
Some final photos from the World Cup opening ceremony. The first game kicks off in just under 20 minutes time. Who will be victorious in that one?
Qatar or Ecuador?
Qatar vs Ecuador
This opening match is a big one in Group A. Neither of these teams is expected to make it out of the group but both have a chance depending in how tonight’s encounter goes.
Also in Group A are the African champions Senegal and the Netherlands. If Qatar or Ecuador pick up maximum points tonight they may only need a draw against one of those teams to get into the knockout rounds.
Qatar vs Ecuador
This will be Qatar’s first ever World Cup game as they have never actually qualified for the tournament before. The last 13 World Cup debutants lost their first game in a run going back just over 20 years.
However, the tournament hosts have never lost their opening game at a World Cup and South Africa in 2010 are the only hosts to fail to make it past the first stage.
The build-up to the opening game starts
Qatar vs Ecuador will kick off at 4pm and the players are out for their warm-ups.
World Cup opening ceremony
Politics surrounds this World Cup everywhere you look, even down to the seating plan.
World Cup opening ceremony
This opening ceremony has been bright, bouncy and colourful. It’s certainly been the spectacle that the host nation were hoping for.
Qatar vs Ecuador confirmed line-ups
Qatar XI: Al Sheeb; Al-Rawi, Khoukhi, Hassan; Miguel, Hatem, Boudiaf, Al-Haydos, Ahmed; Ali, Afif
Ecuador XI: Galindez; Preciado, Torres, Hincapie, Estupinan; Plata, Mendez, Caicedo, Ibarra; Estrada, Valencia
World Cup opening ceremony
Jung Kook of South Korean boy band BTS is now on stage singing the song Dreamers to mark the start of this World Cup. He’s been joined by none other than Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi.
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