Ecuador kept alive their hopes of a second FIFA World Cup ™ last 16 appearance after the redhot Enner Valencia struck to claim a precious point against Holland.
Louis van Gaal’s team made a blazing start in Doha when Cody Gakpo fizzed an unstoppable sixth-minute 18-yard shot beyond Hernan Galindez. But if Galindez thought he was in for a long night, the Ecuador goalkeeper was scarcely troubled over the following 84 minutes.
Andries Noppert in the Netherlands’ goal reacted smartly to save a cross-shot from Valencia, as the South American team steadily established a foothold. Ecuador thought they had equalised in the third minute of first-half time added on. Angelo Preciado’s scuffed effort from outside the box was turned home by Pervis Estupinan but a VAR check confirmed the offside Jackson Porozo was obscuring the vision of Noppert.
The disappointment only served to gee-up Ecuador. Moises Caicedo stole possession in midfield three minutes after half-time. The pass found Estupinan and when he shot, Noppert could only divert his save to the feet of Valencia to prod home his third goal in two matches in Qatar.
Ecuador were visibly lifted and 10 minutes later Gonazalo Plata cracked the bar from distance after Virgil van Dijk blocked Valencia’s original attempt. Both teams have four points – but Ecuador’s night was marred by an injury for Valencia, who was carried off on a stretcher with one minute remaining. The result confirmed Qatar’s elimination following the hosts’ defeat by Senegal earlier in the day.
Player of the match
Frenkie de Jong
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