The Ecuadorian soccer fans met with their “panas” in a “corner of typical foods” in the city of Buenos Aires, and in a theme bar, to encourage the team of Ecuador, which beat its Qatari counterpart 2-0 in the opening match of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
“Ecuador wins two to zero today with goals from Enner Valencia, who is finally going to come out of the goal drought, and it could be another ‘plati’ goalCarlos Álvarez, a 30-year-old from Guayaquil, told Télam.
“I am quite excited to see my team open this World Cup. I have been living here for a year and I experience this World Cup in a different way, far from home where I experienced it more familiarly and, although it is something different, I am still sharing it with my girlfriend, with friends and friends, and that’s what I like the most,” he said.
In turn, he pointed out that “the truth is that we want to go beyond the group stage and see how far we can go, because this selection is very good; the boys are focused and, most importantly, they are young and have a long way to go professionally, and this is a great opportunity to show our football potential.”
Jimmy Farinango, 21, from “El Coca”, a port established in the Ecuadorian Amazon, said he expected a victory by “two to one and that we reach the quarterfinals.”
The young man, who arrived in the country five months ago to study medicine, said that living this “World Cup here, far from family and friends, is a bit different and even getting together with friends, family and lots of beer is a bit strange. Although here we also meet with friends that we don’t know, but we are all compatriots”.
When the first chords of the Ecuadorian National Anthem were heard, the attendees were showing their enthusiasm and encouragement towards their selected.
For his part, Daniel Chamorro, a 33-year-old from Quito who studies molecular biology in the city of Buenos Aires, was “excited to be able to be in a country that has World Cup experience” and stressed that he has “the intrigued to see how the World Cup is lived here”.
“We do not have a World Cup history, we only managed to qualify for a World Cup in 2000 and we have done a good job, and I hope that now, at least, we can move on to the second stage,” he added.
“Since yesterday you could already feel the soccer atmosphere, especially in the bowling alley area where you could hear the chants and on the screens you could see the figures of Maradona and Leo (Messi), and everywhere you could see people with the Argentina shirt encouraging their team; here the World Cup is felt much more,” he said.
The shouts, hugs, toasts and tears of some gave the framework of joy and emotion to the Ecuadorians who lived the opening game far from their homes, friends and families, but who still enjoyed it together with their compatriots in that ” culinary corner” of Buenos Aires.
“I want to say that I support my country, but I want Argentina to win the World Cup“said Jimmy Farinango.
Another meeting point was the classic “Locos x el fútbol” themed bar, where Ecuadorians who came to the city of Buenos Aires gathered to support the team led by Argentine Gustavo Alfaro.
Mayra, an Ecuadorian citizen who has lived in Argentina for a short time, highlighted Alfaro’s role.
“We trust the teacher (Alfaro) because he did an enormous job throughout the tie and the truth is that he made us feel proud of our team,” he remarked.
Jorge, an Ecuadorian student who lives in CABA, told Télam: “We have great expectations with this team (Ecuador), because we have good players and a good coach.”
The man with a shirt of the player Enner Valencia, captain and one of the main offensive cards of the Ecuadorian team, indicated that “one of the players to take into account is Moisés Caicedo because he is having a great season in Europe.”
When the Ecuadorian Anthem began, many stood up and with one hand on their hearts effusively sang its verses.
The public celebrated again when, after 14 minutes, they charged Ecuador with a penalty after the foul against Enner Valencia.
Two minutes later, the public euphorically shouted Valencia’s first goal, a penalty, which placed the ball over the left post of the Qatari goalkeeper.
Beer was the most requested drink, while the most requested dishes were hamburgers, nachos and pizzas.
The celebrations returned when Valencia with a header scored for the second time in the game, after which the atmosphere became more relaxed, until the final celebration.
