AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — The massive swathes of empty seats within the second half summed up the Qatar soccer workforce’s disappointing begin to its first ever World Cup.The night time began with greater than 67,000 largely Qatari followers filling the cavernous Al Bayt Stadium, having fun with a gap ceremony that showcased the tiny Arab emirate to a worldwide viewers 12 years after successful the suitable to host soccer’s largest occasion.It ended with Qatar’s overmatched workforce trudging off the sphere, its undesirable place in soccer historical past safe and with a lot of its dismayed followers having lengthy disappeared.The controversy-laced event opened Sunday with the 2019 Asian Cup champions getting outplayed in a 2-0 loss to Ecuador, guaranteeing a bunch workforce misplaced its opening sport for the primary time at a World Cup.“I might say we felt unhealthy (for our supporters),” Qatar coach Felix Sanchez stated. “I hope within the subsequent sport they are going to be prouder.”Ecuador captain Enner Valencia scored each of his workforce’s objectives within the first half of a one-sided sport that wound up being a damage-limitation train for Qatar on one of many largest nights within the nation’s historical past.The match came about after a colourful 30-minute opening ceremony — fronted by Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman and attended by highly effective dignitaries together with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — that promoted inclusivity and mankind dwelling “underneath one tent.”For a lot of, that might jar with this World Cup being internet hosting by an emirate the place gay acts are unlawful, one which has come underneath robust criticism for the way migrant employees have been handled constructing stadiums and event infrastructure since Qatar gained the scandal-shrouded vote in 2010.The yearslong scrutiny was by no means going to cease simply because play on the sphere lastly entered the narrative of a event dogged by human-rights controversies, but a win for the host nation would have not less than put a positive mild on Qatar, soccer-wise.As a substitute, Qatar’s gamers, contemporary from spending seven months collectively in a pre-tournament coaching camp underneath Sanchez, froze in entrance of an expectant crowd and a disciplined Ecuador workforce that may simply pose a hazard to extra high-profile opponents over the subsequent few weeks.“That is simply the beginning of the World Cup,” stated the 33-year-old Valencia, who has now scored Ecuador’s final 5 objectives on the World Cup, together with three in 2014. “We’ve got to maintain dreaming.”In what may go down as one of many worst shows by a bunch nation to open a event, Qatar had 5 photographs within the match and none of them have been on the right track. The workforce had solely two touches contained in the opposition penalty space.Put merely, Ecuador was simply too good for a workforce solely enjoying on the World Cup as a result of it’s the host.“I wouldn’t say we have been naïve,” Sanchez stated. “I might say this was about nervousness … possibly we had too many doubts.”Valencia thought he had scored within the third minute when he headed in from shut vary following an acrobatic cross from Felix Torres. After a video evaluation of about two minutes, Ecuadorian celebrations have been lower brief when the objective was dominated out for a marginal offside.Ecuador did take the lead, nonetheless, within the sixteenth minute when Valencia — operating onto a through-ball — was tripped by Saad Alsheeb after rounding the goalkeeper, who was booked for the problem. Valencia was nonchalant as he trotted up and transformed the spot kick into the underside nook.The 33-year-old striker then added his second within the thirty third by heading in a right-wing cross from Angelo Preciado.With Qatar’s passes typically going astray and its defensive raggedness repeatedly uncovered, Ecuador had no drawback holding onto its lead as Sanchez stood helpless in his technical space and the house followers fell quiet.Many didn’t return for the second half. And heading into the ultimate quarter of the sport, 1000’s of seats have been empty.It marked an enormous distinction to some hours earlier.In a party-like environment, camels and Arabian horses lined the doorway to the stadium, a Bedouin tent-inspired venue situated within the quite remoted surrounds of the agricultural city of Al Khor, north of Doha.And the seven-act opening ceremony lived as much as its billing, the spotlight being when Freeman prolonged one yellow-gloved hand to a FIFA World Cup ambassador affected by a uncommon spinal dysfunction in a picture representing inclusion in a rustic dealing with worldwide criticism over its human-rights file.Trying on from the luxurious seats have been FIFA president Gianni Infantino alongside leaders from the Center East and Africa. Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, drew a thunderous applause in a brief speech delivered in Arabic from the suite, with Infantino and the monarch’s father, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, on both aspect of him.“I welcome you and good luck to all,” the emir stated in his solely phrases spoken in English.After this show, Qatar will want extra than simply luck to keep away from becoming a member of South Africa as being the one host nation to fail to get out of the group stage on the World Cup.“We’ve got to overlook concerning the stress and be extra aggressive,” Sanchez stated. “We will do it.”BEER CHANTThe first half was winding down when a chant got here from a big part of vocal, yellow-clad Ecuador followers: “We would like beer.” It was a humorous intervention two days after Qatar determined to ban beer gross sales on the stadiums throughout the World Cup. It was a late change by the conservative Islamic nation the place entry to alcohol is strictly restricted. Solely alcohol-free Bud Zero was bought on the sport.VALENCIA INJURYIn a priority for Ecuador, Valencia — the nationwide workforce’s prime scorer — was substituted within the 77th minute and stated after the sport he had discomfort in his knee and ankle. “I hope I will be prepared,” he stated concerning the workforce’s subsequent sport, in opposition to the Netherlands on Friday. Ecuador coach Gustavo Alfaro was underneath no illusions, although, saying: “Enner, he’ll play.”UP NEXTQatar will look to bounce again in opposition to Senegal, additionally on Friday.______Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80