Qatar began the 2022 World Cup with a 2-0 defeat by Ecuador. Coach Felix Sanchez’s staff, which had been making ready for the event for 2 months, was inferior to the South Americans in each respect and must enhance considerably because the event progresses. Player of the match was Enner Valencia, who tied a brace (sixteenth/thirty first minute).
VAR helps Qatar
The first recreation of essentially the most controversial World Cup of all time began with a tough VAR determination. After the supposedly early opening aim for Ecuador by Valencia (third), the video assistant intervened and reported an offside place within the creation of the aim. Difficult to see, however in the end right and good news for Qatar keeper Saad Al Sheeb. He had beforehand missed the ball a number of occasions.
Enner Valencia turns into a bunch fright
However, the Qatar goalkeeper didn’t do significantly better after about quarter-hour: after an excellent ball from deep Al Sheeb knocked Ecuador’s attacker Valencia off his toes from the penalty spot. The man who was fouled began himself and gave the South Americans the well-deserved lead. Ecuador made the sport and stored displaying good mixtures. Little or nothing got here from the overwhelmed World Cup host.
And the clear superiority was additionally mirrored within the outcome earlier than the break: Valencia, who posed main issues for the Qatari protection virtually repeatedly, made it 2-0 with a pleasant header and thus made the preliminary determination. And Qatar? At least shot on aim as soon as. However, Abdelkarim Hassan’s try flew within the path of the higher tier (thirty third). Almoez Ali additionally headed huge of the aim from an offside place in stoppage time.
Qatar stays innocent
Not a lot modified even after the change of sides. Ecuador remained decisive within the recreation and repeatedly created smaller and bigger probabilities with easy means. The solely downside: on account of an absence of accuracy and dedication within the final third, nothing modified on the scoreboard. Qatar remained within the recreation, at the very least in concept, however in follow the hosts remained too innocent up entrance and too weak on the again all through the season. The Qataris’ most harmful transfer got here from Akram Afif, however his shot additionally went huge of the goal (75′).
In the ultimate part, by which the ranks have been getting empty and the sport was getting weaker and weaker, the Ecuadorians largely restricted themselves to securing the lead and conserving their energy. The high quality of the sport dropped considerably, there was no extra pressure till the ultimate whistle. Ecuador’s victory – the primary defeat by a World Cup host in a gap match – was by no means in critical jeopardy.
Valencia is limping off the pitch
There was nonetheless a second of shock for Ecuador: double aim scorer Valencia, who had already been handled within the first half, had to get replaced on account of harm (76th). The participant of the match limped off the pitch. His failure can be a bitter loss, however the analysis has not but been made.
Qatar face Senegal in Matchday 2 on Friday and are already below loads of strain whereas Ecuador tackle the Netherlands.
