Qatar vs Ecuador live: World Cup score, highlights, result as Valencia double leaves hosts reeling

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Enner Valencia scored a first-half double as Ecuador overwhelmed hosts Qatar in the opening game of the 2022 World Cup.

Valencia thought he had scored in the third minute before a VAR offside call saw his effort ruled out.

That spared Saad Al-Sheeb, who failed to claim a free-kick from Pervis Estupinan, but the Qatar goalkeeper then erred by bringing down Valencia, who coolly converted in the 16th minute.

Al-Sheeb had no chance when the Fenerbahce striker rose at the far boss to head home Angelo Preciado’s wonderful right-wing cross.

Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Qatar vs Ecuador at the 2022 World Cup. Follow below for complete results from the Group A match.

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Qatar vs Ecuador live score

  1H 2H Final
Qatar 0 — —
Ecuador 2 — —

Goals:

ECU — Enner Valencia — 16th min (pen)

ECU — Enner Valencia — 31st min (Angelo Preciado)

Qatar vs Ecuador live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

43rd minute: Oh no, that looks like a sore one for Valencia, who just slightly hyper-extended his knee in a challenge. The Ecuador skipper is down receiving treatment and the stretcher is on. Is this the end of his Golden Boot bid?

40th minute: The highly rated Afif looks to get something going down the left but he is greeted by a stacked Ecuadorian welcoming party. He’s dispossessed by Mendez.

37th minute: Valencia spins Boudiaf, who fouls him and becomes the third Qatar player into the book. The list of things the home side have done well so far is very short.

31st minute: GOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Valencia!!!!

Who had Enner Valencia for the golden boot? Caicedo drives towards a callow Qatari defensive line. The ball is worked out to the right from where Preciado sends in a delicious cross. Valencia finds the header to match at the far post, arrowing the ball down into the bottom corner. Irrespective of whether or not Al-Sheeb is playing like a competition winner, he had no chance there.

31st minute: Brighton’s Caicedo is booked. No stranger to a yellow card, the combative midfielder, but that’s soft. Qatar lump the free-kick out of play. They’ve been awful so far.

25th minute: Much was made of Qatar’s two-month training camp before the tournament. Have they over-trained?

18th minute: Another dicey moment for Al-Sheeb. Estrada get on the end of a Valencia cross, can’t get it on target and is then clattered by the wayward gloveman.You get the impression Ecuador are going to try and keep him as busy as possible.

16th minute: GOOOOAAALLLLL!!!! Valencia (pen)

He’s got his goal now. Cool as you like as Valencia waits for Al Sheeb to move and them slots the ball into the opposite right corner.

15th minute: Penalty to Ecuador!!!!

Valencia streams through the middle of the Qatar defence, Al Sheeb brings him down and it’s a clear penalty. 

13th minute: Long wait for the corner as the referee tidies up some nonsense between the players in the six-yard box. Plata’s delivery is headed clear at the near post.

10th minute: Estupinan over another free-kick on the left. Ecuador are very good from these and Qatar are not helping themselves. The hosts scramble clear but it’s all hands to the pump for them at the moment. Hasan with a meaty challenge on Plata. Now Ecuador have a corner.

8th minute: Despite that gigantic let-off, Qatar are still yet to settle. Another Estupinan ball towards the box, this time from open play, causes consternation.

3rd minute: GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! HANG ON, NOOO!!!!!

Ecuador strike early! Valencia in the man on the spot, nodding into an unguarded net after Al Sheeb in the Qatar goal makes a spectacle of himself trying to claim Estupinan’s free-kick. 

But there’s a VAR check and, for reasons that aren’t especially clear, the goal is ruled out. Valencia or any other Ecuador players of consequence did not appear to be offside, initially but the goalkeeper was so far out of his ground he might have inadvertently played an attacker offside. If that’s for a foul on Al Sheeb he’s a very lucky boy.

1st minute: Qatar send a long ball towards the Ecuador box from kickoff but it’s dealt with very calmly. Get it launched!

1 min to kickoff: The anthems have been very well received and we’re into the pre-match handshakes. Former West Ham and Everton striker Enner Valencia leading the way as Ecuador captain. He has 13 goals in 12 league games for Fenerbahce this season. 

5 mins to kickoff: That passed off without incident. Infantino didn’t claim to feel Qatari today, which is just as well because there are a lot of Ecuador fans in. Here come the teams!

8 mins to kickoff: Oh good grief, Gianni Infantino has a microphone. Goodness knows where this might lead.

20 mins to kickoff: Here are those two lineups in full. Four out of Ecuador’s previous five games have finished 0-0 and how effectively Qatar are able to bring their ambitions of playing pretty football to bear against a robust 4-4-2 is likely to be key to the outcome.

Qatar (5-3-2, right to left): 1- Al Sheeb (GK) – 2- Pedro Miguel, 16- Khoukhi, 3- Hassan, 15- Al Rawi, 14- Ahmed – 12- Boudiaf, 6- Hatim, 10-Al-Haydos– 11. Afif, 19. Ali

Ecuador (4-4-2, right to left): 22-Galindez (GK) — 17-A. Preciado, 3-Hincapie, 2-Torres, 7-Estupinan — 19-Plata, 20-Mendez, 23-Caicedo, 10-Ibarra — 13- Valencia, 11-Estrada

45 mins to kickoff: QATAR’S FIRST EVER WORLD CUP TEAM!!!! Afif and Ali start up front!

50 mins to kickoff: TEAM NEWS IS IN FROM THE FIRST GAME OF THE 2022 WORLD CUP!!!

Ecuador line up as expected, with Enner Valencia leading the attack and Felix Torres returning to the defence, as two of the Brighton contingent – Moises Caicedo and Pervis Estupinan – both start!!

1 hr to kickoff: The scene is set ahead of KO!!

1 hr 15 mins to kickoff: The atmosphere is building as the kickoff to the 2022 World Cup approaches….both sets of fans are ready to go!!!

Team news to drop in 15 mins!!

1 hr 45 mins to kickoff: Kick off for the 2022 World Cup is fast approaching here at the Al Bayt Stadium and the Ecuador fans are in full voice!!

2 hrs from kick off: The 2022 World Cup opening ceremony is all set to KICK OFF in 30 minutes!!! Colombian artist Maluma is due to perform on stage at the Al Bayt Stadium and he is a HUGE MESSI FAN!!!!

2hrs 35 mins from kickoff: Ecuador have the edge in World Cup experience over hosts Qatar and Alfaro’s charges carry a forward threat alongside a solid back line.

3 hrs 15 mins from kickoff: Ecuador’s impressive defensive record will be a key feature of their plans in Qatar and Alfaro has been tipped to go for a more traditional 4-4-2 in their opening game.

3 hrs 45 mins from kickoff: As excitement continues to build ahead of the tournament start at the Al Bayt Stadium, the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony will begin at 17:30 local time.

Sporting News is providing live updates from the event including details of start times and global streaming options.

4 hrs 15 mins from kickoff: World Cup hosts Qatar reached the semifinals of the 2021 Arab Cup, with 12 goals scored, can key duo Akram Afif and Almoez Ali rise to the challenge on the biggest stage?

4 hrs 45 mins from kickoff: For Qatar this is a moment of history, not only as the first Middle East host of the World Cup but as they make their first-ever tournament appearance. Hosts, though, have a mixed record at the finals. 

5 hrs from kickoff: So, after 12 years in the making and months of build-up, discussion, hype and — even on the eve of the tournament — controversy, the World Cup is finally here! It promises to be a breathtaking ride over the next four weeks. Join us here at The Sporting News for every kick, tackle, cheer and goal as we witness the best team on the planet being crowned.

Qatar vs Ecuador lineups, team news

The main question for the hosts could be whether wide-attacker Akram Afif will return up front, having missed the 1-0 win over Albania

Alfaro has options at multiple positions, but one player who does start is Enner Valencia, who is in sensational form at the club level with Fenerbahce. Valencia will lead the attack alongside  Michael Estrada.

Below are the projected starting lineups for both teams ahead of their match at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20.

Qatar confirmed starting 11

Qatar (5-3-2, right to left): 1- Al Sheeb (GK) – 2- Pedro Miguel, 16- Khoukhi, 3- Hassan, 15- Al Rawi, 14- Ahmed – 12- Boudiaf, 6- Hatim, 10-Al-Haydos– 11. Afif, 19. Ali

  • Injured: Alaaeldin
  • Suspended: none

The win over Albania was Qatar’s fourth consecutive victory as part of a training camp that has effectively lasted since September.

Former Villarreal player Afif has scored 26 goals in 89 international appearances and he starts for the hosts.

Ecuador confirmed starting 11

Ecuador (4-4-2, right to left): 22-Galindez (GK) — 17-A. Preciado, 3-Hincapie, 2-Torres, 7-Estupinan — 19-Plata, 20-Mendez, 23-Caicedo, 10-Ibarra — 13- Valencia, 11-Estrada

  • Injured: none
  • Suspended: none

Qatar vs. Ecuador live stream, TV channel

Hosts Qatar finally step into the spotlight to begin the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in front of an expectant home nation, and the world. They will be looking to build momentum and start with a win in what is arguably their easiest Group A clash. But will Ecuador spoil the opening night party?

Here’s how you can watch all the action in the major global territories.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
USA Sun, Nov. 20 11:00 ET FS1, Telemundo fuboTV, Fox Sports app, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Peacock 
Canada Sun, Nov. 20 11:00 EST CTV, TSN TSN app
UK Sun, Nov. 20 16:00 GMT BBC One BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website
Australia Mon, Nov. 21 03:00 AEDT SBS SBS On Demand
India Sun, Nov. 20 21:30 IST Sports18 Voot, JioTV
Hong Kong Mon, Nov. 21 00:00 HKT Now TV Now TV
Malaysia Mon, Nov. 21 00:00 MYT Astro, RTM  Astro Go, RTMKlik
Singapore Mon, Nov. 21 00:00 SGT Channel 5 MeWatch, Singtel, StarHub
New Zealand Mon, Nov. 21 05:00 NZDT Sky Sport Sky Go

Watch the match on fuboTV:

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