If ever there was a time to drown your sorrows…
After infuriating many of the 1.3 million overseas fans who are expected to head to the World Cup by banning booze, Qatar became the first host nation in the tournament’s 92-year history to lose their opening game.
Mind you, former Everton and West Ham striker Enner Valencia did leave the Qataris punch drunk. Valencia scored twice and was only denied a hat-trick by a VAR decision that was so tight FIFA had to produce a graphic to prove it.
Valencia only managed 13 goals in 91 games in England and now plays with Fenerbahce in Turkey. But the 33-year-old made some World Cup history in the Al Bayt Stadium.
Ecuador’s record scorer has now hit six goals at the finals after bagging four in three games in Brazil eight years ago. That tally is another record for his country - and he’s now the only South American to have found the net in five successive World Cup games.
“Valencia said: “Ever since the draw took place I dreamt about this game. I dreamt about playing in this opening game and winning - so it really is a dream come true. These games are about moments. We were able to score two early goals and it allowed us to take control.”
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Valencia opened the scoring in the 16th minute for Gustavo Alfaro’s side, from a penalty he earned himself after being upended by dodgy Qatar keeper Saad Al Sheeb. His second goal was a thing of beauty, taking off like he had bounced from a trampoline to send a fierce header fizzing into the corner.
Valencia had been denied another slice of history after just 160 seconds when he nodded home after Al Sheeb’s flapping. That would have been the fastest opening goal of any tournament - until VAR intervened.
Valencia missed out on the match-ball but limped away with the man-of-the-match award as well as ankle and knee injuries that forced him off. “The doctors will assess me, but I hope to play in the second game against Holland,” he said.
Ecuador had Brighton pair Moises Caicedo and Pervis Estupinan in their starting line-up and Seagull’s team-mate Jeremy Sarmiento came on for the last 23 minutes. Qatar’s fans started heading for the exits after an hour. They missed substitute Muntari hook a spectacular effort onto the roof of the net.
Muntari had replaced Abdulla, who wasted his team’s best chance when he directed a close-range header wide just before the break.
Qatar now face Senegal on Friday and coach Felix Sanchez said: “I was too busy during the game to look at how many fans were left in the stadium. We hope in the next game, the people can be proud. If we can play better then I am sure they will keep supporting us.”
