Ecuador secured a 2-0 victory over their host – Qatar on Sunday in the first match of the 2022 World Cup at the Al Bayt Stadium, thanks to Enner Valencia who played a huge role to seal the win.
Enner Valencia, Captain of Ecuador National Team, was the Tormentor-in-Chief against Qatar in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup.
Valencia had registered his name in the score sheet early in the 3rd minute of the first half, but his goal was disallowed for offside after a call by a Video Assistant Referee – VAR.
"When I came out to warm up and saw how many Ecuadorians were there to support us, I felt a great emotion”.
?? 13,000 miles from home, Ecuador fans brought the party to the FIFA World Cup right from the start.@budweiser @budfootball #YoursToTake #BudweiserWorldCup #POTM pic.twitter.com/EF7l4Y1Yfq
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022
Enner Valencia’s third-minute header for El Tri was disallowed by VAR due to offside, but Valencia quickly got his team on the board by scoring from the penalty spot after Saad Al Sheeb fouled him.
In the 17th minute Valencia was brought down by the Qatari goalkeeper, and the referee waisted no time in awarding a Penalty against the host team.Valencia scored the Penalty to register his name as the first goal scorer of the 2022 World Cup.
The skipper of Ecuador later increased his team’s lead with a spectacular header from Angel Preciado’s cross.
In the 31st minute of the first half, Valencia again scored what seemed like the first brilliant goal of the tournament when he headed home a long right wing cross from Angelo Preciado in between two Qatari defenders for the second goal of the match.
Prior to halftime, Almoez Ali squandered Qatar’s finest opportunity of the match by heading wide from close range.
The second half ended without a goal from both teams
Ecuador easily finished the game in the second half to earn a victory and three significant Group A points.
On Friday, Qatar will play its next match against Senegal, and Ecuador will play the Netherlands.
"When I came out to warm up and saw how many Ecuadorians were there to support us, I felt a great emotion”.
?? 13,000 miles from home, Ecuador fans brought the party to the FIFA World Cup right from the start.@budweiser @budfootball #YoursToTake #BudweiserWorldCup #POTM pic.twitter.com/EF7l4Y1Yfq
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2022