The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20221127112510/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63603375
Close menu
FIFA World Cup - Group A
QatarQatar0EcuadorEcuador2

World Cup 2022: Qatar 0-2 Ecuador: Enner Valencia double gives South Americans win

By Shamoon HafezBBC Sport at Al Bayt Stadium, Qatar

Last updated on .From the section World Cup comments 2380

Hosts Qatar opened the 2022 Fifa World Cup in calamitous fashion, easily beaten by Ecuador in a humbling defeat at Al Bayt.

Felix Sanchez's men have been together in camp for the last six months to prepare for the tournament and work on tactics, but a nervous and disjointed performance led to a Group A loss.

With Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal and three-time finalists the Netherlands to come, this looked like Qatar's easiest game on paper but they were totally outplayed.

A dramatic opening to the contest saw Enner Valencia's header from close range ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee, but the South Americans did break the deadlock shortly after.

Qatar's erratic goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb brought Valencia down in the box and the ex-West Ham forward stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

It got worse for the hosts as Valencia powered in another header before half-time to leave the Al Bayt Stadium silenced at the break.

Many supporters who had left the stadium at the interval did not return, leaving the ground around half empty for much of the second period.

It contributed to a flat atmosphere both off and on the pitch, with Romario Ibarra's curling shot being pushed out by Al-Sheeb.

Star men Almoez Ali and captain Hassan Al Haydos were both substituted with 20 minutes remaining, and the side were unable to muster a shot on target.

Ecuador players celebrate Enner Valencia's (centre-right) goal against Qatar
Valencia (centre-right) spent three years at West Ham between 2014-2017 - including a loan spell at Everton - before moving to Mexican side Tigres UANL

Qatar's dream turns to nightmare

After the controversies and conjecture, a football was finally kicked in the Qatar World Cup, 12 years on from being named as hosts.

A day that began with real excitement with the opening ceremony, Qatar's dream turned into a nightmare as they became the first hosts in the competition's history to lose their opening game.

The Asian champions, a tournament they won back in 2019, offered no threat in the final third and were unable to test Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez once.

South Africa have been the only hosts not to make it out of the group in 2010, but Qatar could follow as the second with two difficult games left to play.

Ecuador, meanwhile, have set themselves up in a superb position to progress, extending their excellent recent form to one defeat in 16 games and keeping a clean sheet in their last seven.

They were clearly the better side and had the ball in the back of the net after 160 seconds, but Valencia's close range header was ruled for offside by VAR.

There was confusion as to why the goal did not stand, but Felix Torres' initial challenge with the goalkeeper fell to Michael Estrada in an offside position.

Ecuador were all over Qatar, whose goalkeeper Al Sheeb was particularly shaky and he brought down Valencia, who coolly rolled in the penalty.

Qatar barely had a sniff and their first shot came in anger when defender Abdelkarim Hassan strode forward but his effort from range was blazed wildly over.

Star man Ali, who scored nine goals in the Asian Cup triumph, struggled to get into the game and headed wide, while Pedro Miguel did the same in the second half.

With much of the crowd already leaving to go home, Akram Afif and substitute Mohammed Muntari both smashed over to bring to an end a disappointing opening evening for Qatar.

Player of the match

E ValenciaE Valencia

with an average of 8.60

Qatar

  1. Squad number9Player nameMuntari
    Average rating

    2.75

  2. Squad number1Player nameSaad Al Sheeb
    Average rating

    2.60

  3. Squad number4Player nameMohammed Waad
    Average rating

    2.56

  4. Squad number2Player namePedro Miguel
    Average rating

    2.40

  5. Squad number11Player nameAkram Afif
    Average rating

    2.38

  6. Squad number14Player nameHomam Ahmed
    Average rating

    2.29

  7. Squad number10Player nameHassan Al Haydos
    Average rating

    2.28

  8. Squad number19Player nameAlmoez Ali
    Average rating

    2.28

  9. Squad number16Player nameKhoukhi
    Average rating

    2.22

  10. Squad number15Player nameBassam Al Rawi
    Average rating

    2.22

  11. Squad number6Player nameAbdulaziz Hatem
    Average rating

    2.20

  12. Squad number3Player nameAbdelkarim Hassan
    Average rating

    2.20

  13. Squad number12Player nameBoudiaf
    Average rating

    2.16

Ecuador

  1. Squad number13Player nameE Valencia
    Average rating

    8.60

  2. Squad number7Player nameEstupiñán
    Average rating

    8.08

  3. Squad number23Player nameCaicedo
    Average rating

    7.97

  4. Squad number11Player nameEstrada
    Average rating

    7.89

  5. Squad number19Player namePlata
    Average rating

    7.86

  6. Squad number20Player nameMéndez
    Average rating

    7.74

  7. Squad number3Player nameHincapié
    Average rating

    7.73

  8. Squad number17Player namePreciado
    Average rating

    7.73

  9. Squad number2Player nameTorres
    Average rating

    7.71

  10. Squad number10Player nameIbarra
    Average rating

    7.71

  11. Squad number16Player nameSarmiento
    Average rating

    7.49

  12. Squad number1Player nameGalíndez
    Average rating

    7.28

  13. Squad number5Player nameCifuentes
    Average rating

    7.19

  14. Squad number21Player nameFranco
    Average rating

    7.13

  15. Squad number26Player nameRodríguez
    Average rating

    7.06

Line-ups

Qatar

Formation 5-3-2

  • 1Al SheebBooked at 15mins
  • 2Carvalho Deus Correia
  • 15Al Rawi
  • 16Khoukhi
  • 3Al Haj Fadlalla
  • 14Ahmed
  • 10Al Haydos Substituted forJadoua Al Bayatiat 71'minutes
  • 12BoudiafBooked at 36mins
  • 6Mohammed Abdullah
  • 19AbdullaBooked at 22mins Substituted forMuntariat 72'minutes
  • 11AfifBooked at 78mins

Substitutes

  • 4Jadoua Al Bayati
  • 5Odeh
  • 7Abdelmotaal
  • 8Thaimn Qambar
  • 9Muntari
  • 13Djebril Mohamed
  • 17Mohammad
  • 18Mazeed
  • 20Al Hajri
  • 21Ali
  • 22Barsham
  • 23Al Haj Madibo
  • 24Al Hadhrami
  • 25Abdulsallam
  • 26Meshaal

Ecuador

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Galíndez
  • 17Preciado
  • 2Torres
  • 3Hincapié
  • 7Estupiñán
  • 19Plata
  • 20MéndezBooked at 56mins
  • 23CaicedoBooked at 29mins Substituted forFrancoat 90'minutes
  • 10Ibarra Substituted forSarmientoat 68'minutes
  • 13E Valencia Substituted forCifuentesat 77'minutes
  • 11Estrada Substituted forRodríguezat 90'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Arboleda
  • 5Cifuentes
  • 6Pacho
  • 8Gruezo
  • 9Preciado
  • 12Ramírez
  • 14Arreaga
  • 15Mena
  • 16Sarmiento
  • 18Palacios
  • 21Franco
  • 22Domínguez
  • 24Reasco
  • 25Porozo
  • 26Rodríguez
Referee:
Daniele Orsato
Attendance:
67,372

Match Stats

Home TeamQatarAway TeamEcuador
Possession
Home47%
Away53%
Shots
Home5
Away6
Shots on Target
Home0
Away3
Corners
Home1
Away3
Fouls
Home15
Away15

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Qatar 0, Ecuador 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Qatar 0, Ecuador 2.

  3. Post update

    Corner, Qatar. Conceded by Félix Torres.

  4. Post update

    Attempt missed. Kevin Rodríguez (Ecuador) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Pervis Estupiñán with a cross following a corner.

  5. Post update

    Corner, Ecuador. Conceded by Bassam Al Rawi.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Kevin Rodríguez (Ecuador).

  7. Post update

    Boualem Khoukhi (Qatar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Ecuador. Alan Franco replaces Moisés Caicedo.

  9. Substitution

    Substitution, Ecuador. Kevin Rodríguez replaces Michael Estrada.

  10. Post update

    Corner, Ecuador. Conceded by Mohammed Waad.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Mohammed Muntari (Qatar) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Bassam Al Rawi with a through ball.

  12. Post update

    Foul by José Cifuentes (Ecuador).

  13. Post update

    Abdelkarim Hassan (Qatar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Pervis Estupiñán (Ecuador).

  15. Post update

    Bassam Al Rawi (Qatar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Jhegson Méndez (Ecuador) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Mohammed Waad (Qatar).

  18. Post update

    Foul by Gonzalo Plata (Ecuador).

  19. Post update

    Saad Al Sheeb (Qatar) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Offside, Ecuador. Piero Hincapié tries a through ball, but Jeremy Sarmiento is caught offside.

Page 1 of 6
Navigate to the last page
BBC Sport app banner

Get the latest results and goal notifications for any team at the Fifa World Cup by downloading the BBC Sport app: Apple external-link - Android external-link - Amazon external-link

BBC Sport bannerBBC Sounds logo

Get your daily dose of Fifa World Cup reaction, debate & analysis with World Cup Daily on BBC Sounds

Around the BBC footer - Sounds

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

2380 comments

  • Comment posted by Lucas_eddie, at 18:03 20 Nov

    I think we were all Ecuador fans today

    • Reply posted by Humble Chelsea Fan, at 18:08 20 Nov

      Humble Chelsea Fan replied:
      the qatar fans didnt even show up for the 2nd half lol

  • Comment posted by Dadstheman, at 18:05 20 Nov

    I’m looking forward to Qatar losing every game they play and scoring no goals.

    • Reply posted by eric, at 18:10 20 Nov

      eric replied:
      Can say the same about England, and I am English

  • Comment posted by its not you its me, at 18:07 20 Nov

    They eventually found something wrong with the goal on 3 minutes, well deserved Ecuador. Where were the Qatari women in the crowd?

  • Comment posted by Richard, at 18:07 20 Nov

    Qatar are an embarrassment to football

  • Comment posted by dier - 1558, at 18:07 20 Nov

    Poor.
    Half the spectators at left half time.
    TV director wouldn’t pan above the Ist tier to show the emptiness above.

  • Comment posted by lukey2981, at 18:04 20 Nov

    VAR certainly did their best to intervene in that match, luckily they can’t keep disallowing goals.

    Has there ever been a worse team to host in terms of footballing quality?

    • Reply posted by cienfuegos, at 18:11 20 Nov

      cienfuegos replied:
      NO!

  • Comment posted by Raedwulf, at 18:04 20 Nov

    Congratulations, FIFA! Not only the most embarassing host nation & WC ever, but the most embarassing host team ever. Absolutely not up to it. I hope they enjoy their time in the sun (!); bless, it must be wonderful to be able to pull on your country's shirt; but they won't qualify for another WC. Well, not until Babyhead expands the WC to 96, insisting “it's for the good of football”... {rolleyes}

  • Comment posted by Gervaise Brook-Hampster, at 18:10 20 Nov

    Qatarstrophe

    • Reply posted by LukeWolvesFanWW7, at 18:24 20 Nov

      LukeWolvesFanWW7 replied:
      I'd say justice, but I get where you are going you cunning little wordsmith you.

  • Comment posted by The Wicker Man, at 18:06 20 Nov

    Only thing worse than the quality of football was the quality of the commentary.

    • Reply posted by whole_world_gone_mad, at 18:09 20 Nov

      whole_world_gone_mad replied:
      Like everyone of us, they were trying to keep themselves awake bear in mind it was almost 10pm in Qatar.

  • Comment posted by Bob P, at 18:04 20 Nov

    I wonder if Infantino is feeling Ecuadorian yet.

    • Reply posted by LukeWolvesFanWW7, at 18:07 20 Nov

      LukeWolvesFanWW7 replied:
      Depends how close he is to their shorts

  • Comment posted by Jimothy Taverns, at 18:07 20 Nov

    Hats off to Qatar, paying the best part of 200 billion quid for their shot on goal.

    • Reply posted by Garth, at 18:11 20 Nov

      Garth replied:
      According to the stats they didnt actually have any shots ON goal!

  • Comment posted by Fox, at 18:07 20 Nov

    Worst game ever. In the worst world Cup ever

    • Reply posted by Gary , at 18:17 20 Nov

      Gary replied:
      At least there were no vuvuzelas (so far) 🤞

  • Comment posted by Simon, at 18:09 20 Nov

    Thank heavens that's over , listening to Dion Dublin is torture and a waste of licence fee payers money !!!

    • Reply posted by Ronnie, at 18:15 20 Nov

      Ronnie replied:
      Homes under the hammer Qatar special out on Monday 😂

  • Comment posted by LukeWolvesFanWW7, at 18:04 20 Nov

    Victory for football, I hope they get slapped every game and don't score, brown envelopes wont save you on the pitch.

    • Reply posted by Belgianscot, at 18:29 20 Nov

      Belgianscot replied:
      Brown envelopes would work on the pitch if only the players from poor countries didn't all get paid millions in the English Premier League. Bribery has become so complicated nowadays.

  • Comment posted by maplesden, at 18:06 20 Nov

    The worst home nation of all time.

    • Reply posted by maddog, at 18:24 20 Nov

      maddog replied:
      Get a grip!,Qatar are leagues behind Russia....in all respects.

  • Comment posted by nick1960, at 18:13 20 Nov

    Poor standard of a game,oh please BBC stop the pundits from preaching to us about Qatar, your there for the money don’t try and dress things up to prove why you’re there, if you feel that bad about things,you shouldn’t have gone, we are all aware how low football has sunk,but and a big but we will all watch it,so don’t sugar coat it to us,because no one really cares

  • Comment posted by Mitrovic, at 18:03 20 Nov

    A terrible game… not surprised the ground resembled the Emptyhad in the second half.

    • Reply posted by Hurley Hawk, at 18:10 20 Nov

      Hurley Hawk replied:
      Shocking that so many “fans” left after the first half -great way to motivate your team!

  • Comment posted by Leila Poop, at 18:07 20 Nov

    Get in. They should never have hosted the world cup!

    • Reply posted by Desi786, at 18:36 20 Nov

      Desi786 replied:
      Change the record.😀

  • Comment posted by Freespeechplease, at 18:04 20 Nov

    What a terrible TV presentation of the first match of the world cup by the BBC. This is not politics. It is football. Concentrate on football.

    • Reply posted by Alicante, at 18:06 20 Nov

      Alicante replied:
      Well said.

  • Comment posted by Noisy Neighbour, at 18:10 20 Nov

    Stadium emptying at half time!!! Madness!! These aren’t real football fans, Corporate companies and corruption has utterly ruined the game!

    • Reply posted by bagfast, at 18:12 20 Nov

      bagfast replied:
      Bit like man citys ground

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Sunday 20th November 2022

As It Stood

A

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Ecuador 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 3
2 Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Senegal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Qatar 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0

B

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 England 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Iran 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 USA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

C

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Argentina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Mexico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Poland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Saudi Arabia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

D

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Denmark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Tunisia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

E

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Costa Rica 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

F

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Belgium 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Morocco 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

G

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Brazil 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 Cameroon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Serbia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

H

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Ghana 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Uruguay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
View full FIFA World Cup tables

Top Stories

Elsewhere on the BBC

Fifa World Cup 2022