Qatar loses
WORLD CUP HIGHLIGHTS
A DAY of celebration and promise quickly turned sour for Qatar in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup as Ecuador cruised to a 2-0 win over the host nation. Enner Valencia scored both goals for Ecuador, while goalie Hernan Galindez posted a clean sheet. The game began with controversy when Valencia appeared to score in the third minute on a header. After VAR review, an offside ruling was made and the goal was disallowed. Despite that, Ecuador scored twice. This means that Qatar became the first WC hosts to lose its opener and faces tough opposition in its remaining games against Senegal and Holland.
Big win
THE Three Lions kicked off their 2022 World Cup campaign in style as they beat Iran in a 6-2 thrashing thanks to a brace from Bukayo Saka and efforts from Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish. Bellingham opened the scoring with his first England goal, while Sterling and Saka helped Gareth Southgate’s side establish a comfortable 3-0 lead before half-time. Saka produced a brilliant individual effort to take England further out of sight before Mehdi Taremi netted a consolation, but Rashford and Grealish added icing on the cake despite a stoppage-time penalty from Iran’s Taremi.
Late goals
LOUIS van Gaal’s gambles at both ends of the field paid off for the Netherlands. Up front, Memphis Depay returned from injury as a secondhalf substitute to help spark the attack into life as the Netherlands scored two late goals to beat Senegal 2-0. Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaasen provided the late goals to ensure the Dutch team’s winning start at its first World Cup appearance since 2014, when Van Gaal was also coach. Gakpo headed in a cross by Frenkie de Jong, and Klaasen added a second right at the end of stoppage time after Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy weakly blocked a shot from Depay.
Wales-US draw
GARETH Bale’s late penalty salvaged a draw against the United States in his country’s first World Cup game for 64 years. The Dragons were listless and overrun in a first half dominated by a vibrant USA team, who led as Tim Weah finished smartly after a surging run and pass by Christian Pulisic. The half-time introduction of striker Kieffer Moore revitalised Wales, whose newfound energy and purpose turned a onesided affair into a genuine contest. Then with nine minutes left, Bale was clattered in the box before confidently whipping his penalty into the net to send the travelling supporters into raptures.
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