Qatar 0-2 Ecuador: Valencia score twice as dismal hosts outclassed in World Cup opener

World Cup at home Qatar 0-2 Ecuador: Valencia score twice as dismal hosts are upgraded in World Cup opener

Qatar's World Cup party fell flat on opening night as a brace from Ecuador captain Enner Valencia knocked them down. condemned to a 2-0 defeat.

The tiny Gulf state was desperate to get off to a good start from a sporting perspective, after years of criticism over the awarding of the World Cup at home.

But Valencia's first-half brace - a penalty and a perfectly placed header - proved too difficult for the hosts, who will have to face even more delicate tasks. Senegal and the Netherlands.

Felix Sanchez's Qatar team are the reigning Asian champions and can probably claim to be the best coached team in the tournament, with all the home team -based and having played 11 friendlies since July alone.

However, they became the first hosts to lose the opening game in the tournament's 92-year history on Sunday night at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, the room seeming much less full at the start of the second half.

Ecuador thought they had taken an early lead when goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb beat twice from a free kick, Felix Torres hooked from acrobatically the ball was lost through the goal and Valencia headed close.

However, Italy official Daniele Orsato ruled him out after a marginal appeal against Michael Estrada of the new semi-automated offside technology being used during the tournament.< /p>

The hosts' reprieve was short-lived, however, as Al Sheeb missed a challenge against Valencia in a one-on-one and l tripped in the penalty area. the 15th minute. The former West Ham and Everton player made no mistake, calmly rolling the penalty into the right corner.

Qatar struggled for possession and territory as Ecuador took control, and the lead was doubled half an hour later .

Brighton's Moises Caicedo was allowed to drift diagonally from left to right and sent the ball past right-back Angelo Preciado, whose center whipped was met by a precise header in the corner by this man from Valencia again.

Qatar almost pulled one back in the dying seconds of the first half, but Almoez Ali failed to get enough contact as he led the center of Hassan Al Haydos wide.

Ecuador were also quickest out of the blocks in the second half and Al Sheeb had to fend off an effort from Romario Ibarra.

Akram Afif scored a long-range shot with 15 minutes to go, but it looked like the hosts were out of ideas.

Valencia left the pitch soon after, with Jhon Cifuente coming on as his replacement.

Jeremy Sarmiento, who became Brighton's third player on the pitch when he came on as a second-half substitute, was relieved that an offside was flagged after he shot a glorious chance when the ball popped him into space.

At this point, fans in traditional Arabic attire could be seen flocking to the exits in droves, having clearly given up all hope of a late comeback , with replacing Mohammed...