Topics: FIFA World Cup, Qatar, Ecuador, Enner Valencia
The Ecuador striker was denied the opportunity to make history in the World Cup following a lively start to the competition's curtain raiser.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicked off in a dramatic fashion after Ecuador had an opening goal ruled out for offside. The South Americans thought they had taken the lead against the host nation just three minutes after the tournament kicked off but had the goal chalked off for offside.

The moment arrived after Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb failed to properly deal with an in-swung free-kick from the left. The spilled ball fell in the path of Felix Torres who acrobatically sent the ball to ball across to Enner Valencia. The veteran striker then put the ball in the back of the net to put Ecuador infront. However, a review aided by the Video Assistant Referee and the Semi-Automated Offside Technology revealed that the a player involved in the build-up was offside before the ball got to Valencia to strike home.

With the goalkeeper having come out of the six-yard box to deal with the initial cross from the free-kick, the offside rule states that Estrada, who nodded the ball down for Torres to hit, was supposed to be level or behind the last two opponents for Enner Valencia's goal to be deemed as legitimate. The rule simple implies that if the goalkeeper is caught up the pitch, the striker would have to be level with at least two outfield players, and the second-last opponent will be treated as the offside line.

Nevertheless, the decision became a distance memory just 10 minutes later, with Enner Valencia winning a penalty and converting from the spot for the tournament's first-ever goal. In the 31st minute, he perfectly met a cross from Angelo Preciado to double his side's advantage and outrightly become his country's top-goalscorer at the competition with five goals.