The long-awaited 2022 World Cup has kicked off in disappointing fashion for hosts Qatar following a 2-0 defeat to Ecuador. A lavish opening ceremony in which the Gulf state welcomed the world was followed by a tepid display as the South American’s threatened to run riot in a dominant first half.
Qatar kept the score down are the first hoss to draw a blame in their opening game.
Valencia looked to have put La Tri in front with a header in the third minute after goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb flapped at a free-kick, but eyebrows were raised when Michael Estrada was deemed to be marginally offside following a VAR check.
The striker was not to be denied 13 minutes later, coolly sending Al Sheeb the wrong way from the spot after the shaky keeper brought him down.
Valencia capitalised on Qatar’s defensive frailties again just after the half-hour mark, rising unmarked to meet Angelo Preciado’s whipped cross from the right with a brilliant header that found the bottom-left corner.
Qatar had not posed a threat but Almoez Ali somehow nodded wide from close range right on the stroke of half-time.
Valencia required treatment for a knee injury late in the first half but was able to continue and Ecuador continued to dominate after the break, Al Sheeb palming away Romario Ibarra’s strike.
Qatar were devoid of ideas and Mohammed Muntari fired over when a rare chance came late on as Ecuador eased to victory, although there was concern when Valencia was withdrawn with 15 minutes to go seemingly still being troubled by that knee problem.
Valencia started the game as his country’s joint-leading World Cup goalscorer along with Agustin Delgado on three and wasted no time in setting a new record.
Having found the back of the net three times in Brazil eight years ago, he has now scored each of Ecuador’s past five World Cup goals. Eusebio (Portugal 1966), Paolo Rossi (Italy 1982) and Oleg Salenko (Russia 1994) hold the record of scoring six in a row.
Qatar started poorly and never recovered, with keeper Al Sheeb fortunate to be given a let-off by the VAR after making a mess of trying to deal with a set-piece before Valencia nodded in.
He then brought Valencia down after the Ecuador skipper rounded him and looked all at sea.
Qatar head to Doha to take on Senegal at Al Thumama Stadium on Friday, when Ecuador face Netherlands at Khalifa International Stadium in Ar-Rayyan.
