Enner Valencia during the Group A, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium. (Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
Ecuador defeated host nation, Qatar, in the opening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday.
A host nation has never lost its opening game in the tournament, but Qatar who are the first Arab Nation to host the World Cup fell short.
Ecuador’s Captain Enner Valencia scored a brace in the first half, to cap an impressive opening display from South Americans, who are far too good for Qatar.
Valencia was denied a hat-trick when VAR chalked off his goal for offside.
The hosts however never really got a foot in, not at all the performance they were looking for on their World Cup debut.
Ecuador will try to take the momentum into their next group game, when they come up against Netherlands, while Qatar will be hoping to bounce back against Senegal.
