Netherlands vs Ecuador live score, FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar; Netherlands and Ecuador play out entertaining 1-1 draw

That's it for this one. England v USA is next. Hop tabs to catch that one. For now bye.

FT | 🇳🇱 Netherlands 1–1 Ecuador 🇪🇨

La Tri got the deserved equalizer at the start of the second half, and they even pushed hard to get the winner, but it ultimately ended in a draw.

They now share the top spot in Group A with 4 points apiece!#NEDECU #Qatar2022 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/gD4ib7dlT3
— Sofascore (@SofascoreINT) November 25, 2022

Enner Valencia leads the pack so far 💪#ECU #FIFAWorldCup
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) November 25, 2022

With this result Qatar are officially knocked out of the World Cup.

FULL-TIME! Netherlands 1 Ecuador 1. Highly entertaining game which ends in a 1-1 draw. Gakpo's opener was cancelled out by Enner Valencia's third goal this World Cup. Ecuador also hit the crossbar and threatened more than Holland did in the entire game.

A late corner to Ecuador but it is headed away.

6 minutes of added time.

Not sure what the injury to Valencia was but he seemed to be holding his right leg.

Concern for Ecuador as Enner Valencia lies flat on the ground in the middle of the pitch and then is taken off in a stretcher.

A double change for Netherlands as Wout Weghorst and Marten de Roon replace Cody Gakpo and Teun Koopmeiners.

Jeremy Sarmiento is Ecuador's first change, on for Michael Estrada.

Netherlands substitution: Steven Berghuis on for Davy Klaassen.

Another chance for Ecuador but a last-ditch sliding tackle takes all the power off a goalbound shot.

Ecuador are buzzing now and Pervis Estupinan on the left is causing all sorts of strife to the Dutch defence. Holland are wobbling here.

Gonzalo Plata hits the crossbar. So close to a second there Ecuador. The initial shot is blocked by Virgil van Dijk but it falls nicely to Plata on his left-foot, he curls with power but with Noppert beaten it hits the crossbar.

STAT: All last six of Ecuador's World Cup goals have been scored by Enner Valencia. He becomes only the fourth man to achieve that feat. He joins Eusebio for Portugal in 1966, Paolo Rossi for Italy in 1982 and Oleg Salenko for Russia in 1994.

GOAL! Enner Valencia in the 48th minute! Netherlands 1 Ecuador 1. Who else but Enner Valencia to level things. The talismanic Ecuadorian is onside as he reacts sharpest to the save from Noppert to tap it in from 3 yards. A fierce drive saw Noppert just push it into Valencia's path. Game on.

Netherlands make a half-time change: Steven Bergwijn off and Memphis Depay on.

Second half begins.

HALF-TIME! Netherlands 1 Ecuador 0. Netherlands ended Ecuador's run of seven games without a goal conceded with a 5th minute stunner but since then their opponents have troubled the Dutch more than they have troubled Ecuador. And Ecuador had a goal disallowed as well just before half-time.

GOAL DISALLOWED FOR ECUADOR! Pervis Estupinan thinks he has scored from a corner as he deflects a drive from Angelo Preciado but an Ecuadorian player was right in the goalkeeper's line of sight - standing in an offside position so it's chalked off. Ecuador protest but the referee waves them away. To be fair Noppert's view was blocked by the defender as the deflection from Estupinan's shot took it into the goal.

3 minutes of added time.

Enner Valencia is found down the left, he cuts inside and tries to give Andries Noppert the eyes as he looks for the far corner but bends it towards the near-post, the tall keeper does well to bat it away. Good save that

Ecuador threaten from the left a couple of times but Virgil van Dijk remains strong and heads clear.

The game has settled down after that early goal. Nothing great to report in terms of action.

STAT: That was the first goal conceded by Ecuador in 8 games.

STAT courtesy BBC: Netherlands have avoided defeat in their last 20 matches when scoring the opening goal in the World Cup, dating back to 11 June 1978 against Scotland.

GOAL! Cody Gakpo in the 5th minute! Netherlands 1 Ecuador 0. What a rocket that is from Gakpo from outside the box. He takes a touch to go on his left and rifles an unstoppable shot that had Hernan Galindez scrambling with no chance of saving that. Hit the net so so hard as well and it ricocheted back off it.

KICK-OFF!

The anthems are done and we are almost ready.

The players are out in the tunnel and we should be ready for the national anthems.

Ecuador Subs: Arboleda, Cifuentes, Pacho, Gruezo, Ayrton Preciado, Ibarra, Ramirez, Arreaga, Mena, Sarmiento, Palacios, Franco, Dominguez, Reasco, Rodriguez.

Netherlands Subs: Pasveer, de Ligt, de Vrij, Luuk de Jong, Depay, Berghuis, Lang, Bijlow, de Roon, Malacia, Janssen, Weghorst, Taylor, Simons, Frimpong.

Netherlands XI: Noppert, Dumfries, Aké, Timber, Van Dijk, Blind, Frenkie De Jong, Koopmeiners, Klaassen, Gakpo, Bergwijn.

Ecuador XI: Galíndez; Preciado, Hincapié, Porozo, Torres, Estupiñán; Caicedo, Méndez; Plata, Enner Valencia, Estrada.

And that's how the teams line-up today!

Not long to go for the line-ups to be out now. Stay tuned to find out who makes it to the starting XI for both Netherlands and Ecuador!

Meanwhile, Enner Valencia is easily the key player for Ecuador. The forward displayed great ability while notching up a brace during the inaugural game of the tournament.

Head coach Gustavo Alfaro will be hoping for more of the same from his captain ahead of what proves to be a tough test awaiting them in the form of the Netherlands.

Cody Gakpo is one of the most promising talents in the world at the moment. The 23-year-old scored on his FIFA World Cup debut against Senegal in the last game. The clash with Ecuador is certainly one where he can look to add more to his tally.

With several big European clubs keeping a close eye on his development, the PSV star could use this tournament as a platform to showcase his talent to the whole world.

Netherlands could become the first team to secure their berth in the knockout stages, should they beat Ecuador. The Oranje will be eager to avoid any slip-up and ensure their safe passage to the next round.

However, Louis van Gaal will be well aware of the threat on offer from Ecuador. The South Americans are buoyed by their victory on opening day and will want to make best use of that momentum.

ARE YOU READY? - The action never stops in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. After the heroics in their respective opening games, Netherlands and Ecuador are set to lock horns with each other in Group A.

Coincidentally, both teams secured 2-0 wins to kick-off their campaigns in Qatar. Who will emerge victorious tonight? Join us on our LIVE coverage as we find out that and more!