Published: Post Date – 11:51 PM, Sunday – November 20
(AP Photo) Qatar, whose first World Cup game ended in a disastrous defeat, has earned a place in unpopular football history.
Cole: Qatar’s first World Cup game ended in a disastrous defeat and earned a place in football’s unpopular history.
The contentious tournament opened on Sunday with Qatar’s 2-0 loss to Ecuador in front of 67,372 fans at Al Bayt Stadium in a poor and embarrassing performance.
In the ’92 football event, the host team has never lost its opening game.
The inaugural Middle East World Cup gave Qatar, a small Arab country on the Persian Gulf, the chance to present itself to the wider world. Ecuador football played at this level for the first time in the host tournament, with Ecuador captain Enna Valencia scoring twice in the first half.
The match followed a colorful 30-minute opening ceremony – hosted by Oscar winner Morgan Freeman and attended by powerful dignitaries including Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – that opened The formula promotes inclusivity and human living “under one tent”.
For many, that was at odds with the fact that the World Cup is being hosted by an emirate where homosexuality is illegal, since Qatar won a scandal-plagued vote in 2010 over how it treated migrant workers to build stadiums and tournament infrastructure. has been strongly criticized.
The years-long scrutiny will never stop with the on-pitch event ending up in a tournament beset by human rights controversy, but a victory for the host nation would benefit Qatar, at least football-wise.
Instead, Qatar’s players, who had just spent seven months together in a pre-match training camp under Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, froze in front of expectant crowds and a disciplined Ecuadorian team, which could Will only pose a threat to more high-profile opponents in the coming weeks.
Valencia thought he scored in the third minute when he headed home from close range following an acrobatic cross from Felix Torres. After watching about two minutes of the video, Ecuador’s celebration was interrupted as the goal appeared to be offside and the goal was disallowed.
Ecuador, however, took the lead in the 16th minute when Valencia was tripped over by Saad Alsheeb after rounding the keeper, who was booked for a challenge. Valencia trotted nonchalantly and fired the penalty into the corner.
The 33-year-old forward scored the second goal in the 33rd minute with a header from Angelo Preciado’s right-wing cross.
With Qatar’s often misguided passes and the tatters of the defense repeatedly exposed, Ecuador had no problem holding on to the lead while Sanchez was helpless in his technical zone and the home fans fell silent.
With plenty of space in the second half, it was almost a damage-limiting exercise for Qatar.
