Nigeria, Nov. 26 -- The Netherlands and Ecuador are still occupying the top two positions in Group A after the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw on Friday at the Khalifa International Stadium at the ongoing World Cup.

While the race for places in the knockout phase is still wide open for three of the teams in Group A, the 1-1 draw has officially confirmed the exit of tournament hosts, Qatar.

Having both won their opening games by 2-0 margins, the Netherlands and Ecuador were poised for a supremacy battle in Friday's contest, but eventually the game ended in a tie.

The Netherlands, who were on a 16-game unbeaten streak, got off to a flying start as Cody Gakpo's sixth-minute goal put them in front before Enner Valencia's second-half strike...