Qatar struggled in the opening game, when Valencia was on fire in the first half and became historic for Ecuador and won the first match 2-0.
Ecuador dominated most of the first half and played the ball at Qatar`s half most of the time. The home team didn`t have much to show off against Valencia and Ecuador.
The captain, Enner Valencia, and the only player for Ecuador who has ever been in a World Cup, was leading the show at Al Bayt Stadion in the first group match in the championship.
Valencia “could” have scored the quickest opening goal in the championship, when he scored after 160 seconds, but was denied the goal after a VAR decision, but became historic as he have scored the last five goals in World Cup for his national team.
Qatar had one big chance on the target right before the half time, but didn`t managed to put the ball in the goal and wasn’t given a lot of opportunity in the second the half. Qatar is the first host team to lose an opening match.
The opening game in group A, is the game with most cards in a World cup opener since 1994, with six yellow cards.
