Ecuador blanks host Qatar
AL KHOR, QATAR — Qatar’s first ever World Cup match ended in dismay for an overmatched team and with a place in unwanted soccer history.
The controversy-laced tournament opened Sunday with Qatar getting outplayed and embarrassed in a 2-0 loss to Ecuador in front of 67,372 fans at Al Bayt Stadium.
In 92 years of soccer’s biggest event, a host team had never lost its opening game.
The first World Cup in the Middle East is a chance for Qatar, a tiny Arab country jutting out into the Persian Gulf, to showcase itself to the wider world. Its soccer team, playing at this level for the first time by virtue of hosting the tournament, couldn’t live up to the moment as Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scored both goals in the first half.
Qatar’s players, fresh from spending seven months together in a pre-tournament training camp under
Spanish coach Felix Sanchez, froze in front of an expectant crowd and a disciplined Ecuador team.
Valencia thought he had scored in the third minute when he headed in from close range following an acrobatic cross from Felix Torres. After a video review of about two minutes, Ecuadorian celebrations were cut short when the goal was ruled out for what appeared to be a marginal offside.
Ecuador did take the lead, however, in the 16th minute when Valencia was tripped by Saad Alsheeb after rounding the goalkeeper, who was booked for the challenge. Valencia was nonchalant as he trotted up and converted the penalty kick.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association released the football state semifinal playoff pairings and sites Sunday afternoon. Division I, II, III and V will play on Friday, while Division IV, VI and VII will play on Saturday. All games kick off at 7 p.m.
Tickets for all state semifinal games go on sale Monday and must be purchased in advance at www.ohsaa. org/tickets.
Division I – both games Friday, 7 p.m.
Lakewood St. Edward (131) vs. Gahanna Lincoln at Mansfield Arlin Field
Cin. Archbishop Moeller (131) vs. Springfield (12-1) at Piqua Alexander Stadium
State Championship: Friday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m., Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton
Massillon Washington (12-1) vs. Akron Archbishop Hoban (13-1) at U. of Akron Infocision Stadium-summa Field
Tol. Central Catholic (13-1) vs. Kings (13-1) at Wapakoneta
Mercy Health Wapak Ford Field State Championship: Thursday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m., Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton
Canfield (12-1) vs. Parma Heights Holy Name (11-2) at Euclid Community Stadium
State Championship: Friday, Dec. 2, 3 p.m., Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton
Steubenville (12-2) vs. Cin. Wyoming (14-0) at Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus Jefferson Area (11-3) vs. Cleveland Glenville (13-0) at Canal Fulton Northwest Jim Schalmo Field, Dr. Martin Smilek Stadium
State Championship: Saturday, Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton
Automotive Stadium Canfield South Range (14-0) vs. Liberty Center (14-0) at Clyde Robert J. Bishop Jr. Stadium
State Championship: Friday, Dec. 2, 10:30 a.m., Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton
Kirtland (14-0) vs. Beverly Fort Frye (13-1) at Canfield South Range Reminder Athletic Complex
State Championship: Saturday, Dec. 3, 10:30 a.m., Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton
Warren John F. Kennedy (121) vs. Newark Catholic (11-1) at Orrville Red Rider Stadium, Heartland Field
State Championship: Sat. Dec. 3, 3 p.m., Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton