Valencia double leads Ecuador to opening game victory

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

The opening game of the 2022 World Cup has come and gone with Ecuador emerging victorious over hosts Qatar at the Al-Bayt stadium.

Two goals from Fenerbahce striker Enner Valencia made the difference but in truth there was a large gulf between both sides.

Morgan Freeman was among the guest stars in the opening ceremony but almost everyone just wanted the football to start and when it did, the action didn’t take long to pick up.

Valencia thought he had opened the scoring in the third minute, nodding into an empty net from close range but there was deemed to be an offside in the build-up. It was a somewhat controversial decision which fed into plenty of conspiracy theories.

The officials were soon the centre of attention again but they got the decision in the 16th minute spot on when Valencia was clumsily taken down by the Qatari ‘keeper Saad Al Sheeb.

The former West Ham forward dusted himself down and calmly slotted the spot-kick home to become his nation’s all-time leading goalscorer at the tournament.

Al Sheeb looked panicked throughout a feisty opening period that saw four players booked and he was lucky to avoid further punishment when colliding with Michael Estrada.

Renato Ibarra shot over as Qatar struggled to gain any foothold in the game and found themselves two down just after the half-hour mark.

Angel Preciado’s cross from the right was brilliantly headed home by Valencia to leave the South American’s in complete control of this Group A clash.

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

The hosts showed none of their Asian Cup winning capabilities until Almoez Ali headed wide when well placed just before half-time.

Tepid would be the best word to describe what was served up in the second half.

Ecuador seemed content to conserve energy for the tougher tests which lay ahead while Felix Sanchez’s Qatari side were sloppy in possession as were unable to mount any genuinely promising attacks.

Ibarra had a shot saved by the now less nervous looking Al Sheeb while at the other end Pedro Miguel saw a powerful header fly wide.

Much was made of Akram Afif in the lead up to the tournament but the Al Sadd man was on the periphery of things, with only a 75th minute shot that sailed over the bar to show for his actions.

The crowd were excited any time he did get the ball and the hosts will need to get the talented midfielder involved more if they are to stand any chance of reaching the knockout stages.

Substitute Mohammed Muntari came to closest to giving the home fans something to smile about when his first-time effort landed on the roof of the net but no shots on target and no corners until stoppage time tells it’s own story.

Ecuador will be delighted to get a victory in the opening game which leaves them in a strong position early on.

Qatar were predicted to surprise people with their performances but if the next two encounters with Senegal and the Netherlands continue in a similar pattern, they will be remembered for the worst performance ever from a host nation.

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