QATAR: In the second match of their 2022 World Cup Group A campaign, Ecuador came back to tie Netherlands 1-1 and eliminate hosts Qatar.
Ecuador’s Enner Valencia scored his 5th goal in the 6th match
Netherlands took an early lead thanks to the second goal of the tournament scored by Cody Gakpo. However, Ecuador responded with a goal from Enner Valencia early in the second half.
The previous West Ham striker scored his third of the competition. However, there were worries for him later in the game as he injured his knee and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.
As a result, the Netherlands must win Tuesday’s final group match against Qatar to advance, while Ecuador will proceed to the last 16 only if they avoid defeat against Senegal.
Gakpo scored the Netherlands’ first goal against Senegal with six minutes left, but it took him only six minutes against Ecuador, a team that had kept seven consecutive clean sheets.
The forward for PSV Eindhoven received Davy Klaasen’s pass on the edge of the box, took two touches to tee himself up, and then slammed one into the near post of Hernan Galindez.
The forward for PSV Eindhoven received Davy Klaasen’s pass on the edge of the box, took two touches to tee himself up, and then slammed one into the near post of Hernan Galindez.
However, after 49 minutes, Noppert managed to palm Estupian’s shot away to Valencia. The striker took advantage of the empty goalpost and scored the equalising goal. The VAR checked the goal for offside, but Valencia was comfortably onside.
In the 59th minute, Gonzalo Plata received the ball in the box and thundered a shot off the crossbar before it bounced clear, almost completing the turnaround for the South Americans. The ball comprehensively beat Noppert.
However, Ecuador received genuine concern at the end of an action-packed second half of the game due to Valencia’s injury.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatar Falters to 1-3 Defeat against Senegal
