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Matchday 1 as it happened: Qatar open FIFA World Cup against Ecuador
All the action from the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar: Live scores, highlights, and insights from the opening match as Qatar took on Ecuador.
Published 21 November 2022 1:16am
Updated 21 November 2022 5:15am
By SBS Sport
Source: SBS
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FT - It's all over!
Ecuador have held on for a deserved 2-0 victory over Qatar in the opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
You can watch the replay, mini match and highlights from this fixture via our dedicated match hub, here:
Thanks for following our live blog - we'll be back for Matchday 2!
Ecuador have held on for a deserved 2-0 victory over Qatar in the opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
You can watch the replay, mini match and highlights from this fixture via our dedicated match hub, here:
Thanks for following our live blog - we'll be back for Matchday 2!
Second half underway
46' - Second half commences
Play has resumed inside Al Bayt Stadium as Qatar attempt to overturn their 2-0 deficit.
Play has resumed inside Al Bayt Stadium as Qatar attempt to overturn their 2-0 deficit.
Half-time at Al Bayt Stadium
HT - Qatar 0-2 Ecuador
Ecuador lead the hosts by two goals at the break thanks to an impressive display from captain Enner Valencia.
Ecuador lead the hosts by two goals at the break thanks to an impressive display from captain Enner Valencia.
Dominant Valencia doubles Ecuador's lead
31' - GOAL!
Ecuador have their second goal of the match and it's Enner Valencia again!
Angelo Preciado angled a dangerous ball into the box and Valencia displayed perfect technique to guide it home and give the South Americans a two-goal lead over Qatar.
Ecuador have their second goal of the match and it's Enner Valencia again!
Angelo Preciado angled a dangerous ball into the box and Valencia displayed perfect technique to guide it home and give the South Americans a two-goal lead over Qatar.
Valencia scores first goal of 2022 World Cup
16' - GOAL!
Enner Valencia gets his name on the scoresheet and, this time, it counts!
Valencia was brought down by Qatar goalkeeper Al Sheeb and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot. The Ecuador star held his nerve to send Al Sheeb the wrong way and score the opening goal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Enner Valencia gets his name on the scoresheet and, this time, it counts!
Valencia was brought down by Qatar goalkeeper Al Sheeb and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot. The Ecuador star held his nerve to send Al Sheeb the wrong way and score the opening goal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
VAR rules out Valencia's early Ecuador goal
3' - DISALLOWED GOAL!
Captain Enner Valencia had his opener ruled out after the Video Assistant Referee deemed an Ecuador player offside in the build-up.
It remains 0-0, but for how long?
Captain Enner Valencia had his opener ruled out after the Video Assistant Referee deemed an Ecuador player offside in the build-up.
It remains 0-0, but for how long?
Jung Kook at the opening ceremony
Relive the best of the opening ceremony as BTS star Jung Kook performed in front of an excited crowd at Al Bayt Stadium.
Ecuador stats
Ecuador used 49 different players in their 18 matches in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, more than any other team who qualified for this year's tournament.
Ecuador lost only one of their last 15 matches (including drawing eight of the last 11), a 3-1 World Cup qualifying defeat against Paraguay in Ciudad del Este on 24 March 2022.
Ecuador are on a national record run of six consecutive clean sheets. Four of the six games in that run ended 0-0 (the other two were 1-0 wins).
Ecuador lost only one of their last 15 matches (including drawing eight of the last 11), a 3-1 World Cup qualifying defeat against Paraguay in Ciudad del Este on 24 March 2022.
Ecuador are on a national record run of six consecutive clean sheets. Four of the six games in that run ended 0-0 (the other two were 1-0 wins).
Qatar stats
None of the last 13 debutants won their first World Cup match (W0-D3-L10). The most recent nation to win on their World Cup debut were Senegal who beat France 1-0 in the opening game of the 2002 tournament.
Qatar go into the World Cup on a five-match winning streak. Since the beginning of October, they have recorded friendly victories in Spain against Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Albania.
Qatar won the 2019 Asian Cup, defeating Japan 3-1 in the final in Abu Dhabi. Almoez Ali was the tournament's leading scorer on nine goals, a record for a single Asian Cup.
Qatar go into the World Cup on a five-match winning streak. Since the beginning of October, they have recorded friendly victories in Spain against Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Albania.
Qatar won the 2019 Asian Cup, defeating Japan 3-1 in the final in Abu Dhabi. Almoez Ali was the tournament's leading scorer on nine goals, a record for a single Asian Cup.
Head-to-Head
Ecuador v Qatar in 2018.
The most recent match between these nations was a 4-3 friendly win for Qatar at Doha's Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on 12 October 2018. Akram Afif (33'), Almoez Ali (36', 68') and Hasan Al Haydos (61' penalty) scored for Qatar. Enner Valencia (66', 71') and José Cevallos (89') netted for Ecuador, who had Frickson Erazo (73') and Valencia (90+4') sent off.
Hosts open the tournament
The host nation will play in the opening match for the fifth consecutive World Cup: Germany beat Costa Rica 4-2 in Munich in 2006, South Africa drew 1-1 against Mexico in Johannesburg in 2010, Brazil were victorious 3-1 versus Croatia in São Paulo in 2014, and Russia beat Saudi Arabia 5-0 in Moscow in 2018.
Qatar are the only country to make their debut at the 2022 World Cup. They are the first team to make their tournament debut as hosts since Italy in 1934
Qatar are the only country to make their debut at the 2022 World Cup. They are the first team to make their tournament debut as hosts since Italy in 1934
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