Ecuador wins the first game of the 2022 World Cup

Enner Valencia (Josh Smith, Wikimedia Commons)

The 2022 World Cup began on Sunday from Al Bayt Stadium in Al Kohr, Qatar. The hosts Qatar were playing in its first ever game in the history of the World Cup, and lost 2-0 to Ecuador.

Ecuador got two goals from Enner Remberto Valencia. The 33-year-old from Esmeraldas who plays for Fenerbahce of the Turkish Professional League, scored in the 16th and 31st minutes. The game-winning goal in the 16th minute came on a penalty kick. Valencia actually found the back of the net in the third minute as he headed the ball from a bicycle pass, however there was an offside on the play, and the goal was disallowed.

Valencia is now Ecuador’s all-time leader in goals in the history of the World  Cup. He also scored three goals in the 2014 World Cup. The first came in a 2-1 loss to Switzerland, and the second and third came in a 2-1 Ecuador win over Honduras. The previous all-time leader in goals was Agustin Delgado with three goals.

Ecuador did not participate in the 2018 World Cup. This was Ecuador’s fifth win in the history of the World Cup. They also defeated Croatia 1-0 in Yokohama, Japan at the 2002 World Cup, Poland 2-0 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany at the 2006 World Cup, Costa Rica 3-0 in Hamburg, Germany at the 2006 World Cup, and Honduras 2-1 in Curitiba, Brazil at the 2014 World Cup. Ecuador did not qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The favourite in Group A is the Netherlands. The Netherlands have never won the World Cup. However, they have been a finalist thrice–in 1974 in Germany, in 1978 in Argentina, and in 2010 in South Africa.

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