The 2022 FIFA World Cup opened with the host nation Qatar taking over Ecuador within the opening match.
However from the opening whistle, it was all about Ecuador.
Ecuador saved the strain on from the kickoff and noticed a brace from Enner Valencia to take a 2-0 lead early within the match. They salted away the victory within the second half, incomes the total three factors within the opening match towards Qatar in Group A motion.
Simply three minutes in, it appeared like Ecuador had scored the primary purpose of the World Cup. A cross into the field noticed Qatari keeper Saad Al Sheeb come off the road, and within the mad scramble for the ball, Valencia discovered it on his proper foot, and put it at the back of the online:
However after a VAR verify, the purpose was taken off the board because of an offside ruling:
FOX Soccer analyst Stu Holden broke down the offside choice, and the expertise that led to the decision, on this video:
The match was degree for the second, however Qatar wouldn’t be as fortunate a couple of minutes later.
The host workforce lastly loved a little bit of possession, however in a flash Ecuador was again on the entrance foot. Once more the Qatari keeper confronted a troublesome choice, Al Sheeb was caught between a rock and a tough place on the counter-attack from Ecuador. The keeper made the choice to come back off the road late, and takes on Valencia, however the Ecuadorian striker stumbles to the turf, and was awarded the penalty.
He didn’t disappoint, cheekily placing his penalty in the suitable nook of the online as Al Sheeb dove to his proper:
Valencia would notch his second purpose of the sport within the thirty first minute, due to a pinpoint cross from right-back Ángelo Preciado:
Preciado layers his cross into the field completely, and Valencia places the header previous Al Sheeb, staking Ecuador to the early 2-0 lead.
Right here is one other take a look at the exact cross from Preciado into the field, and the end from Valencia:
The help from Preciado was only one second in an incredible opening half from the right-back, who was dominant each within the air, and on the bottom:
Angelo Preciado’s first half by numbers vs. Qatar:
83% go accuracy
35 touches
4/6 floor duels received
3/3 tackles received
3/3 crosses accomplished
2/3 aerial duels received
1 key go
1 helpPut in a superb cross for Valencia’s second purpose. pic.twitter.com/cDy5us6Jsp
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 20, 2022
For Valencia, his second purpose of the match was his fifth-straight for La Tri in World Cup motion:
He was hobbled late within the first half, after which limped off the pitch within the 76th minute, changed by José Cifuentes. The Los Angeles FC midfielder made his World Cup debut with the substitution.
Valencia’s effort on Sunday was fairly masterful, by the numbers:
Enner Valencia’s recreation by numbers vs. Qatar:
100% tackles received
38 touches
8/10 floor duels received
2/3 dribbles accomplished
2 photographs on course
2 objectives
1 penalty receivedScored the opening purpose of the 2022 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/oWZnLY2RJe
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 20, 2022
Ecuador had just a few extra probabilities within the second half, with maybe their greatest coming with the ball on the ft of Cifeuntes’ contemporary legs, however they had been unable to transform any of these probabilities within the ultimate half-hour. Ecuador additionally had a nook within the ninety fifth minute, however the ball into the field couldn’t discover a goal, and went behind for a purpose kick.
The host nation utilized a little bit of strain within the ultimate minutes, and Qatar had their greatest probability within the 86th minutes on a counter-attack. However the shot off the suitable foot of Mohammed Muntari rocketed excessive of the bar:
The host nation completed the match with 5 photographs, placing none of them on course. Ecuador had 5 photographs of their very own, placing three on purpose and changing the 2 from Valencia.
Each groups are in motion subsequent on Friday. Qatar will tackle Senegal at 8:00 a.m. ET, whereas Ecuador will tangle with Netherlands at 11:00 a.m. ET in a highly-anticipated match. The Qatar match might be televised on FS1, whereas the Ecuador match might be broadcast on FOX.
