Welcome to Sportstar’s highlights of the Qatar vs Ecuador World Cup opening match from the Al Bayt Stadium.
Match Report: Valencia scores twice as Ecuador beats host Qatar 2-0 in WC opener
Enner Valencia’s brace guides Ecuador to a 2-0 win. Ecuador becomes the first team to beat the host nation in the opening match of the World Cup in the 92-year history of the tournament.
Plata’s attempted cross is blocked by Al Rawi but it has come at a personal cost as the ball hit the latter’s face. That was a painful one.
Ecuador moments away from clinching the win and first points in the 2022 World Cup.
Five added minutes at the end of the second- half
Ecuador subs: IN- FRanco, Rodriguez OUT- Caicedo, Estrada
Close- A long ball from Qatar’s half finds Muntari who had timed his run well to remain onside. Muntari waits for the ball to bounce and takes a first-time shot. The effort is inches away from the target as it rattles the net on the top of the goal.
Cifuentes sends an incisive pass inside the box as Plata made the run, Qatar keeper Al Sheeb races off his line to come out and reaches the ball before the Ecuador winger. He takes a knock but it is not serious.
Sarmiento blazes his shot over the bar from a close distance but it does not count in the end as the play is called back for offside. He was in an offside position when he received the cutback from Estupinan.
Booking: Qatar’s Afif sees a yellow card for his challenge on Plata.
Ecuador sub: IN- Cifuentes OUT- Valencia.
Afif goes for goal from an ambitious distance but the shot does not threaten the keeper.
Qatar subs: IN- Waad, Muntari OUT- Al-Haydos, Almoez
Boudiaf tries to find an opening by making a forward run but he is stopped in his tracks by the Ecuador defence..
Ecuador sub: IN- Sarmiento OUT- Ibarra
A good phase of pressure by Qatar but the home team has not been able to pose any significant danger to the Ecuador goal.
Close- Hassan sends a great cross from the left flank and finds Miguel’s head. Miguel tries to find the far post with his header but cannot keep his effort on target.
Preciado has taken a knock and is lying on the ground. He looks to be in pain and is taken off the pitch for further medical attention.
Booking: Sebas Mendez becomes the latest player to see yellow for his challenge on Afif.
Estrada cuts in and dispatches a powerful curler between two Qatar players. The shot is well taken but Al Sheeb is alert enough to make the save.
Romario Ibarra makes a bursting run on the underlap but the pass played to him is too heavy and he cannot reach the ball. Qatar dooes not clear its lines properly and Preciado has the ball. He goes for goal from distance but skies his effort.
Afif looks for Almoez Ali with a good forward pass by Hincapie with an excellent interception to stop the attacking move.
There are no half-time changes to report for either team.
Ecuador starts the second-half with a 2-0 lead courtesy of a brace by Enner Valencia.
Enner Valencia’s brace keeps Ecuador 2-0 ahead against Qatar at the break. A half filled with intense drama. An exciting start to the FIFA 2022 World Cup.
Close- Qatar with a golden chance to get a late goal in the first half. A great cross from the right flank found Almoez Ali. However, he could not get a clean contact with the ball.
Ecuador has regained control of the tempo. Qatar has had no answer, to be honest to the pressure posed by Alfaro’s men.
Qatar is getting its foot on the ball towards the end of the first half. Something positive for Felix Sanchez Baz to work with.
Five added minutes at the end of the first-half!!
Why did Valencia’s initial goal not stand?
Enner Valencia has taken a bang on the knee and is getting medical attention. The stretcher came on the pitch but looks like he wont need it. He stands up and limps out of the pitch. Ecuador will hope it is nothing serious.
Al Rawi makes a crucial challenge to prevent Valencia from making a bursting run down the inside left channel from an Ibarra pass.
Booking: Qatar’s Boudiaf sees a yellow for bringing down Valencia. It is clear who the Qatar players are targeting.
GOOOALLLLL!! ECUADOR GETS ITS SECOND!! VALENCIA SCORES HIS SECOND!! Preciado swings a brilliant cross from the left and Valencia guides the head to the bottom left corner with his head. There is another check for offside but this time, the goal stands.
Booking: Ecuador’s Moises Caicedo becomes the latest player to see a yellow card.
Qatar players have still not settled down. They are hardly being able to string a couple of passes together. Ecuador has done well to maintain pressure even after taking the lead.
Booking: Almoez Ali of Qatar sees a yellow for his challenge on Valencia.
CLOSE- Estupinan sends a dangerous cross from the left to Estrada who had done well to get above everyone. However, he cannot convert the header from point-blank range. But the play is brought back as Estupinan was offside when Hincapie played the pass to him.
GOOALLL!!! VALENCIA CONVERTS FROM THE SPOT!! He tucks it away in the bottom right corner sending Al Sheeb the wrong way.
Booking: Al Sheeb sees a yellow for his challenge on Valencia
PENALTY!! QATAR GOALKEEPER AL SHEEB BRINGS DOWN VALENCIA INSIDE THE BOX!! Valencia times his run well to break clear of his marker. One-on-one with Al Sheeb, Valencia goes past him only to be brought down by the Qatar keeper.
Plata tries to send a cross inside the box from the right flank but sees his cross blocked. A very positive start from Ecuador.
What a start to the World Cup. Intense drama in the first 10 minutes.
GOAL RULED OUT!! OFFSIDE!! VAR has a look and rules the goal out!!
GOOOAALLL!! ECUADOR SCORES!! VALENCIA SCORES THE FIRST GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP!! Qatar could not clear its lines. Torres acrobatically sends the ball to the far-post and Enner Valencia is there to head the ball in.
Ecuador pressing the host country in the opening minutes. The Qatar players are not getting enough time on the ball.
The 2022 World Cup opening match between Qatar and Ecuador is underway!!
Qatar vs Ecuador Head-to-head record!!
Match history
STARTING LINEUPS!!
The World Cup feeling!!
Qatar and Ecuador fans in a celebratory mood before the opening match at the Al Bayt Stadium. | Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Did you know?
Stat time- The Pressure is on for Qatar!!
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Match Preview
The FIFA World Cup opens with host country Qatar facing Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday, November 20.
Making its World Cup debut, Qatar, which has won its last four friendlies, will look to make a winning start in a contest between the 50th and 44th ranked nations in the world before facing the big boys of Group A, the Netherlands and Senegal.
Coach Felix Sanchez, in charge since 2017, is aware of the task in hand and is relying on the playing chemistry of the Al Saad gang – 13 of his 26 players come from the Qatar Super League champion – to earn the football world’s respect and offer early legitimacy to the nation’s dream project.
“It’s an extraordinary day like no other. We have made such a huge effort in this country. We are all devoted to this World Cup and have invested so much. I hope it’s a great party where we can enjoy football and I hope everyone from all countries in the world, together, can enjoy this experience. I’m happy to be the ones kicking off this competition,” he said ahead of the historical game.
“We are very much aware of who we are, where we are coming from and who we are facing. We know it will be a great challenge but, in many ways, we are eager to play and are very happy to be here.”
Ecuador, with Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo and the experienced Enner Valencia in its ranks, is short of goals coming into the World Cup but is tough to break down, conceding none in its last six games since June.
Ecuador coach Gustavo Alfaro had criticised FIFA’s move to prepone the game by a day to fit in a grand opening ceremony, but on Sunday both teams will be happy to kick-off the World Cup.
They’ll hope the game and its stars will do enough to banish the controversies that have bogged down both nations.
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