Captain Enner Valencia extended his cult status in Ecuador to wider international acclaim with a first-half double that propelled the South Americans to a comfortable 2-0 win over hosts Qatar in the opening game of the World Cup on Sunday.
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group A - Qatar v Ecuador - Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar - November 20, 2022 Ecuador's Enner Valencia celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
A 16th-minute penalty on Sunday, nonchalantly stroked into the corner after he was brought down by the Qatar keeper, was followed by a header, propelled with power in the 31st. "We knew it was going to be a tough game, however we managed to get a good result quickly," he said after being named man of the match. "We managed to score a couple of quick goals which helped us to get control of the game and take the three points.
Valencia is now with Fenerbahce and in rich scoring form. His 13 league goals this season have put him top of the scoring charts in Turkey.
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