Soccer-Valencia double helps Ecuador cruise previous hosts Qatar in World Cup opener By Reuters

By Andrew Cawthorne

AL KHOR, Qatar (Reuters) -Ecuador eased previous World Cup debutants Qatar 2-0 on Sunday with first-half objectives from veteran striker Enner Valencia in a one-sided affair that was the primary opening recreation defeat for a bunch nation within the match’s historical past.

Ecuador’s all-time high scorer, nicknamed “Superman” at residence, scored an early penalty and added a well-taken Thirty first-minute header to offer the South Individuals a commanding first-half lead as the house facet froze with the enormity of the event.

“Perhaps the accountability and the nerves obtained the higher of us,” Qatar’s Spanish coach Felix Sanchez mentioned.

It might have been even worse for the Qataris in entrance of a 67,372 crowd on the tent-shaped Al Bayt stadium the place they have been kicking off the Center East’s first World Cup.

Valencia had a 3rd minute header disallowed for a marginal offside after shaky goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb flapped on the ball.

“I believed it was a aim. I believe Michael Estrada must do one thing about his toe nails as a result of it was very tight,” quipped Ecuador’s supervisor Gustavo Alfaro of his participant whose foot was judged offside.

Ecuador saved urgent although and Valencia coolly dispatched a penalty within the sixteenth minute after Alsheeb had tripped him.

For his second, Valencia was unmarked however nonetheless confirmed nice approach to stoop and take Angelo Preciado’s cross virtually from behind him to go previous Alsheeb once more.

“I dreamt so many instances about profitable this opening match. This was a dream that I managed to attain and assist my workforce get the three factors,” Valencia mentioned.

“We managed to attain a few fast objectives which helped us to get management of the sport … We predict we will go very far and carry out nicely.”

The 33-year-old scored all of Ecuador’s three objectives at their final World Cup look in 2014 and Sunday’s double cemented his standing as a nationwide hero.

“He is Ecuador’s greatest ever,” mentioned fan Diego Males, 30, watching on a large display screen at a mall within the metropolis of Ibarra in north Ecuador. “Enner and the workforce are giving us pure pleasure.”

TOOTHLESS QATAR

Ecuador’s second aim killed the Group A recreation as a contest and the second half was performed at a sluggish tempo, with many Qataris leaving earlier than the top as Ecuador’s followers chanted “Ole!”

Qatar appeared largely toothless regardless of an enviously very long time to bond and prepare collectively, together with summer season camps in Europe. Almoez Ali had their greatest likelihood on the finish of the primary half, heading vast however then judged offside.

Mohammed Muntari additionally fired over within the dying minutes.

Qatar coach Sanchez appeared more and more disconsolate watching his nervous-looking gamers misplace passes and permit Ecuador to outmuscle them simply from entrance to again.

“There is no such thing as a excuse, I need to congratulate our opponents Ecuador. There may be a variety of room for enchancment,” he mentioned. “We simply should let go, neglect about it and be extra aggressive.”

Either side now should play African champions Senegal and three-times World Cup finalists the Netherlands, with Qatar’s probabilities of qualifying from the group stage and even choosing up factors wanting slim on Sunday’s efficiency.

At their fourth World Cup, Ecuador are dreaming of surpassing their greatest ever earlier displaying on the finals after they reached the final 16 in 2006.

Their coach Alfaro can be joyful that his gamers put apart the furore over defender Byron Castillo, left at residence to keep away from additional controversy after they confronted doable expulsion in a grievance by Chile over his nationality standing.

“It was an incredible victory, particularly because it was the opening World Cup match, so there’s extra stress and rigidity,” he mentioned.

“You do not know how your workforce goes to carry out. We’re the youngest workforce on this World Cup. If we need to transfer to the knockout stage, then we needed to win this match.”