The Ecuadorian national soccer team opened its performance at the Qatar 2022 World Cup on the right foot with a 2-0 victory over the host team in the opening match.

Havana, November 21 (RHC)-- The Ecuadorian national soccer team opened its performance at the Qatar 2022 World Cup on the right foot with a 2-0 victory over the host team in the opening match.

Striker Enner Valencia scored both goals for the South Americans at the Al Bayt Stadium in the 16th and 31st minutes, the first one from the penalty spot.

Valencia, who plays for Turkish club Fenerbahce, scored a first goal after just three minutes, but it was disallowed for offside after a review with the video assistant referee.

Shortly after, Valencia entered the box with the ball under control and beat goalkeeper Saad Al Sheed, who swept the ball away with his hand for a clear penalty.

The striker made no mistake from the penalty to open the scoring after 16 minutes, his fourth goal in a world finals, and thus concretized the clear dominance of the South Americans against an opponent too nervous and unable to generate dangerous actions.

He then took advantage of a great cross from Eduar Ayrton Preciado, after 31 minutes, and expertly headed the ball into the Qatari net.

The Fenerbahce striker was the star of the match, scoring both goals in the match and taking his tally to five in World Cups to match his country's top scorer in the history of the world finals, after the three he scored at Brazil 2024.

Ecuador will have its second match against the Netherlands on Friday at the Jalifa International Stadium in Group A and Qatar will face Senegal on the same day at the Al Thumama, both facilities located in Doha.