2 yıl önce

Ecuador defeats Qatar 2-0 in World Cup 2022 opener

Turkish professional football club Fenerbahce's attacker Enner Valencia netted two goals in Ecuador's victory against Qatar, who became the first hosts in the history of the World Cup to lose the opening match.

AFP

Valencia put the ball into Qatar’s net, with a penalty kick, in the 16th minute, and then in the 31st, he scored again with an accurate header.

Qatar, the first Arab nation to host the World Cup, has lost 2-0 to Ecuador as the football showcase kicked off.

Qatari fans began filing out of the Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday long before the final whistle after a dominant display from the Ecuadorans.

Turkish professional football club Fenerbahce's attacker Enner Valencia netted an early one for Ecuador in the third minute before it was disallowed by the video assistant referee (VAR) at Al Bayt Stadium.

Valencia again put the ball into Qatar’s net, with a penalty kick, in the 16th minute, and then in the 31st, he scored again with an accurate header.

He walked off from a light injury in the 43rd minute, and the first half ended 2-0, despite Qatar's better display after the second goal and Almoez Ali missing a critical shot in the final seconds.

Enner Goal Valencia 😎#QatarWorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/lXlNJyv1b9
— Fenerbahçe SK (@Fenerbahce) November 20, 2022

First game of the tournament

Pedro of Qatar wasted another important goal chance in the 61st minute.

Enner Valencia substituted in the 77th minute, heading to the bench amidst thunderous applause.

After a long shot by Qatar's Muntari missed the Ecuador goal by inches in the 85th minute, the game ended and Qatar became the first hosts in the history of the World Cup to lose the opening match.

Ecuador now leads Group A of World Cup with 3 points.

Senegal will take on the Netherlands in the next Group A match on Monday.