Ecuador warns the Netherlands and opens the World Cup with a resounding victory over Qatar


Sunday, November 20, 2022 at 6:58 PM• Tom Rofekamp • Last update: 19:05

Ecuador has drawn the opening game at the World Cup without any problems. Gustavo Alfaro’s team had nothing to fear from host country Qatar, which still got away well with a 0-2 loss. Enner Valencia was the absolute star on behalf of Ecuador, and was also responsible for the entire goal production. The ball is now with group mate Netherlands, which will face Senegal on Monday at 5 p.m.

Days before kick-off at the Al Bayt Stadium, the game was already under high tension. Amjad Taha, a journalist and researcher from the British Middle East Center for Studies and Research, claimed on Friday that Qatar would have bribed eight Ecuadorian players to lose the game 1-0. That would be for a sum of approximately seven million euros in total. However, national coach of Qatar Félix Sánchez quickly dismissed that rumor.

The opening phase of the World Cup overture certainly spoke in Sánchez’ favor. After fifteen minutes of play, Qatari goalkeeper Saad Al-Sheeb knocked down Valencia, after which referee Daniele Orsato pointed to the spot. Valencia himself got behind the ball and put Al-Sheeb on the wrong foot: 0-1. Before that, the Ecuadorian attack leader had already seen a hit rejected by the VAR.

Valencia was therefore the man that it was all about with the South Americans. After half an hour of play, the Fenerbahçe striker headed the ball nicely out of the turn on the instructions of Angelo Preciado. The fact that Valencia suddenly started to stumble after half an hour must have worried the Ecuadorians. He was able to continue, and saw how Almoez Ali got a chance for Qatar just before half time. However, the attacker headed wide, and was also offside.

It was a stroke of luck for Ecuador that Valencia ‘just’ returned after the break. However, he was no longer as dangerous as in the first act, just like the rest of his team. Al-Sheeb had to intervene after 55 minutes on an attempt by Romario Ibarra, before the game steadily bled to death. The most talked-about moment of the sequel was the substitution of Valencia fifteen minutes before the end, although it is still unclear whether that was a precaution. In any case, the score remained unchanged and Qatar lost its first World Cup match ever.