/
Qatar loses to Ecuador, England showers goals against Iran.
Qatar loses to Ecuador, England showers goals against Iran | World Cup Coverage w/Santiago Leon & Asa Smith
Contributors
Santiago Leon – @sleon
Asa Smith – @TLsTDs
ENG 6 IRN 2
Jude Bellingham set the tone by scoring his first international goal,
Bukayo Saka scored twice as England made a flying start to their World Cup campaign by thrashing Iran 6-2 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday.
Saka – whose penalty miss proved decisive in the Euro 2020 final last year – netted a stunning volley to help Gareth Southgate’s side take a 3-0 lead into half-time, before he doubled up after the break.
With Iran crumbling after goalkeeper Alireza Beyranvand suffered a nasty head injury early on, Jude Bellingham set the tone by scoring his first international goal, while Raheem Sterling prodded home England’s third.
Mehdi Taremi denied England a clean sheet with a powerful finish, but substitutes Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish responded as the Three Lions sent out a message to their Group B rivals despite Taremi scoring a very late second from the penalty spot.
Southgate’s rampant side then made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time when Sterling cutely diverted home Harry Kane’s right-wing cross.
England take the early lead in Group B by putting three points on the board, and they face USA in their next game on Friday. Iran drop to the bottom of the table, with Wales next up for them.
Jude Bellingham 1-0
Saka 2-0
Sterling 3-0
Saka 4-0
Rahsford 5-1
Grealish 6-1
Iran
Mehdi Taremi 4-1
Mehdi Taremi 6-2
Qatar 0 Ecuador 2
Enner Valencia scored twice as Ecuador spoiled the party by beating hosts Qatar 2-0 in the first game of the World Cup.
Valencia had an early goal contentiously ruled out for offside at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday, but Qatar were unable to heed the warning.
The clinical captain become Ecuador’s leading World Cup goalscorer with a tally of four by opening the scoring with a penalty and struck again with a bullet first-half header.
Qatar looked out of their depth in their first ever World Cup match, failing to register a shot on target as Ecuador made an encouraging start in Group A.
Qatar had not posed a threat, but Almoez Ali somehow nodded wide from close range right on the stroke of half-time.
Valencia required treatment for a knee injury late in the first half but was able to continue and Ecuador continued to dominate after the break, Al Sheeb palming away Romario Ibarra’s strike.
Qatar
Totals shots 5
Ecuardor totals shots 6
Ecuador 53% ball possesion
Qatar had 47% ball possesion
PREDICTIONS
SEN vs NED
AS: NED 2-0
USA WALES
AS: USA 2-1