World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer
AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — The large swathes of empty seats in the second half summed up the Qatar soccer team’s disappointing start to its first ever World Cup.
The night started with more than 67,000 mostly Qatari fans filling the cavernous Al Bayt Stadium, enjoying an opening ceremony that showcased the tiny Arab emirate to a global audience 12 years after winning the right to host soccer’s biggest event.
It ended with Qatar’s overmatched team trudging off the field, its unwanted place in soccer history secure and with many of its dismayed fans having long disappeared.
The controversy-laced tournament opened Sunday with the 2019 Asian Cup champions getting outplayed in a 2-0 loss to Ecuador, ensuring a host team lost its opening game for the first time at a World Cup.
“I would say we felt bad (for our supporters),” Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said. “I hope in the next game they will be prouder.”
Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scored both of his team’s goals in the first half of a one-sided game that wound up being a damage-limitation exercise for Qatar on one of the biggest nights in the nation’s history.
The match took place after a colorful 30-minute opening ceremony — fronted by Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman and attended by powerful dignitaries including Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — that promoted inclusivity and mankind living “under one tent.”
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World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Alessandra Tarantino - staff, AP
Fireworks explode over the Al Bayt Stadium before the start of the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Alessandra Tarantino - staff, AP
Fireworks explode over the Al Bayt Stadium before the start of the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
Ecuador's players celebrate their 2-0 win after the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
Ecuador's players celebrate their 2-0 win after the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Darko Bandic - staff, AP
Artists perform prior the start of the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Darko Bandic - staff, AP
Artists perform prior the start of the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
Ecuador celebrates their opening goal by Enner Valencia during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Natacha Pisarenko - staff, AP
Ecuador celebrates their opening goal by Enner Valencia during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Darko Bandic - staff, AP
Qatar's Pedro Miguel, left, challenges for the ball with Ecuador's Pervis Estupinan during the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Darko Bandic - staff, AP
Qatar's Pedro Miguel, left, challenges for the ball with Ecuador's Pervis Estupinan during the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
Ecuador's Enner Valencia heads the ball to score his side's second goal during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
Ecuador's Enner Valencia heads the ball to score his side's second goal during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Hassan Ammar - staff, AP
Ecuador's Enner Valencia, centre, is fouled by Qatar's goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb, left, during the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Hassan Ammar - staff, AP
Ecuador's Enner Valencia, centre, is fouled by Qatar's goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb, left, during the World Cup group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Ariel Schalit - staff, AP
Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the World Cup, prior to the group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Ariel Schalit - staff, AP
Artists perform during the opening ceremony for the World Cup, prior to the group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
World Cup 2022: Dismay for Qatar as Ecuador wins opening game
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
View of the fireworks at the Al Bayt Stadium during the opening ceremony before the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
Thanassis Stavrakis - staff, AP
View of the fireworks at the Al Bayt Stadium during the opening ceremony before the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor , Qatar, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022.
