Ecuador wins the opening match of the Qatar 2022 World Cup

World Cup host Qatar was humiliated by Ecuador on Sunday in the opening game of the tournament, losing 2-0 with goals from Enner Valencia. The veteran Ecuadorian striker led Gustavo Alfaro's team to a deserved victory in the opening match of the World Cup at the Al Bayt stadium in Doha. With the win, the South American team leads Group A with three points, while the hosts are left to face Senegal and the Netherlands next. For the first time in history, the host country loses a World Cup opening match.

The match started with much controversy, as Ecuador sent a ball into the back of the net in the third minute in a crazy little sequence but the VAR surprisingly whistled for an offside that looked very harsh, although it was backed up by the newly introduced automated offside technology with a chip inside the ball.

¡SE ABRAZA UN PAÍS! 🫂🇪🇨

¡@LaTri debutó con un triunfo en esta #FIFAWorldCup! #QAT 0-2 #ECU

— Copa Mundial FIFA 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_es) November 20, 2022

But just 10 minutes later, Ecuador finally got its first goal on a well-deserved penalty kick. Enner Valencia coolly slotted home the penalty for the 1-0 lead. Before halftime, Valencia scored his second goal with a brilliant, powerful header into the lower left corner of the goal. It was his fifth goal in four World Cup games, surpassing Agustin Delgado as Ecuador's top scorer in World Cups.

🔥 ¡𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗢! ⚽️⚽️

Con ustedes el máximo goleador de @LaTri en la historia de la #FIFAWorldCup: @EnnerValencia14. 🇪🇨🔝 pic.twitter.com/7Oenyurnm9

— Copa Mundial FIFA 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_es) November 20, 2022

Qatar, meanwhile, had nothing to show during their first World Cup match in the history of their national team. The reigning Asian champions hardly looked like a threat, let alone secure a score, which puts them in a difficult position going forward. Ecuador earns their first three points towards their goal of qualifying for the Round of 16.