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Ecuador’s all-time top scorer, nicknamed “Superman” at home, scored an early penalty and added a well-taken 31st-minute header to give the South Americans a commanding first-half lead as the home side froze with the enormity of the occasion. “Maybe the responsibility and the nerves got the better of us,” Qatar’s Spanish coach Felix Sanchez said. It could have been even worse for the Qataris in front of a 67,372 crowd at the tent-shaped Al Bayt stadium where they were kicking off the Middle East’s first World Cup. Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group A – Qatar v Ecuador – Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar – November 20, 2022 Qatar’s Bassam Al-Rawi in action with Ecuador’s Enner Valencia. Photo: Reuters Valencia had a third minute header disallowed for a marginal offside after shaky goalkeeper Saad Alsheeb flapped at the ball. “I thought it was a goal. I think Michael Estrada needs to do something about his toe nails because it was very tight,” quipped Ecuad