Enner Off!

 

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar finally kicked off, and it started out as a shaky performance by the hosting team. Qatar struggled to develop any kind of possession, and Ecuador was ready to strike. The visitors almost won the match in the 5th minute when an Enner Valencia's goal would be called off due to being offsides by the Video Assistant Referee. Much of the internet felt a fix was in, but Ecuador took encouragement from the buildup of play as Qatar fell apart. Just 11 minutes later, Qatari keeper Saad Alsheeb would come out to challenge for a ball and grab the leg of Enner Valencia bringing him down in the box. Saad would earn a yellow card and the opportunity to watch as Enner Valencia scored the first goal of this World Cup. Things would only go from bad to worse for Qatar as just 15 minutes later a cross and excellent header at the back post by Valencia would put Ecuador up 2-0. Qatar would manage to finally put an offensive play together as the first half expired, but the ball wasn't even close to being on target. The second half wasn't as entertaining as the first. Enner proved to be the first start of this tournament, and Qatar became the first hosting nation to lose its opening match. Was all the hype behind Qatar's national team proven to be just hype? Or will the hosts fight back to put on a good showing. Onto the scores.

  

Contestant	Result	Qatar	Ecuador	Prediction	P. Qatar	P. Ecuador	Points	Oracle	Total
Artifex	Ecuador	0	2	Qatar	2	1	0	0	0
Colubris	Ecuador	0	2	Draw	1	1	0	0	0
Fortuitous	Ecuador	0	2	Draw	1	1	0	0	0
Historicus	Ecuador	0	2	Qatar	1	0	0	0	0
IoannesNix	Ecuador	0	2	Qatar	3	2	0	2	2
Musicus	Ecuador	0	2	Ecuador	1	3	5	0	5
Praeceptor	Ecuador	0	2	Qatar	2	1	0	0	0
ReginaApis	Ecuador	0	2	Ecuador	1	2	5	2	7
Scriptor	Ecuador	0	2	Ecuador	1	2	5	2	7

Day 1 Standings

Rank	Contestant	Points	Oracle
1	ReginaApis	7	2
1	Scriptor	7	2
3	Musicus	5	0
4	IoannesNix	2	2
5	Artifex	0	0
5	Colubris	0	0
5	Fortuitous	0	0
5	Historicus	0	0
5	Praeceptor	0	0

Contestants ReginaApis and Musicus have been given Yellow Cards for handing in their brackets on Saturday, after the deadline date. These contestants must remain on proper behavior or suffer a forfeiture of one of their picks.

More than half the field is scoreless after 1 match. 7 points separates first from last. Tomorrow is the first full day of action, and can see a total of 30 points picked up. Good luck contestants. Sleep well.

The Grand Salmon Alpaca