The game started explosively with tackles flying in from both teams which showed how lively this game was going to be Ecuador were favourites even thought people were thinking the hosts were going to bribe the refs and people started to think it more as everyone thought Ecuador had a perfect clear goal chalked off but the 3D var replay showed it was offside.
That didn’t stop the Ecuador dominance as they kept dominating possession and chances and soon come the Qatari goalkeeper gave them a huge opportunity after bringing down Enner Valencia in the box. that gave him the chance to score the first goal of the Tournament and he coolly slotted the ball passed Al Sheeb.
The Ecuador dominance kept happening as then were running the hosts ragged in the first half and soon come another goal came for Enner Valencia who powered his header in from a brilliant cross from Preciado to double Ecuador’s lead. The hosts came close to finding a goal just before half time, but Almoez Ali didn’t time his header right.
2nd half and Ecuador took their foot off the gas and allowed Qatar to dominate for a bit and again the hosts came close to an equalizer in the 62 minute with Pedro Miguel heading wide for them it wasn’t looking like they weren’t going to find the goal that would bring them back in the game, and it certainly didn’t help when their opponents brought on one of their brightest talents in Sarmiento to break down the tired Qatari legs, and he certainly did that causing problems for them.
In the end it was a comfortable win for Ecuador to start off their Tournament and it was well deserved as they dominated the hosts most of the game and took their chances when they needed to and doing that will help them ease their way out the group which is surely the aim for them.
Man of the Match: Enner Valencia
He was good from the start and unlucky to not have a Hatrick that game he ran the Qatari defence ragged and took both his goals well and lead from the start till end he could play a key part if they want to do well as with his leadership and good eye for goal it could be lethal and useful for Ecuador if they are to make it out their group.
Flop of the match: Saad Al Sheeb
It was a game to forget for him as he was at fault for a lot of things that went wrong for the hosts this game as in the first few minutes as for the disallowed Ecuador goal he came out his next and missed the ball which lead to Enner Valencia heading the ball into an empty net but luckily var chalked it off then 10 minutes later Enner Valencia was through on goal and he brought him down picking up a deserved yellow card in the process and from then on it kept getting worse for him and it wasn’t a good game for him.
The stats weren’t as much surprising either as Ecuador had the more shots on target whilst the hosts failed to register a shot on goal however they did dominate possession but failed to make any use of it as their expect goals were 0.35 whilst their opponents expected goals were 1.16 which isn’t as surprising as they probably should’ve scored more goals, but they took the gas off the game in the second half which allowed the hosts to dominate the second half but overall it was a deserved win for Ecuador to start the world cup off.
Luke's Football blog 