DOHA —
Kalidou Koulibaly sent Senegal into the World Cup
knockouts for just the second time in their history with the winner in
Tuesday’s dramatic 2–1 win over Ecuador.
اضافة اعلان
The Netherlands’ dominant victory over Qatar meant
only a win would see Senegal through to the knockouts from Group A, while
Ecuador would have progressed with a draw.
Senegal opened the scoring through Ismaila Sarr’s
penalty late in the first half, but despite managing to keep Ecuador captain
Enner Valencia quiet throughout, Brighton’s Moises Caicedo levelled in the 67th
minute before Koulibaly sent his team through and Ecuador home.
Senegal manager Aliou Cisse promised before the game
his experienced side “would not overthink” the occasion and it was the Africans
who opened the game furiously, with Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye lashing the
ball just wide of an open goal after only three minutes.
Less than a minute later, Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan
Galindez needed to bail out his side’s high backline, sliding in to stifle a
counter well outside his box.
On the 10 minute mark, Senegal’s
Boulaye Dia found
himself one-on-one with Galindez, but he cut the ball just wide of the post.
Seemingly sparked into life by Senegal’s fierce
opening, Ecuador pushed forward and won a free-kick 30m from goal, with the
South Americans taking the opportunity for a rare breather before Valencia
slammed the ball into the wall.
After the furious opening exchanges, both sides
began to settle and the first half looked set to end goalless before Ecuador
defender Piero Hincapie clattered into Sarr, giving referee Clement Turpin no
choice but to point to the spot.
Sarr stepped up and coolly dispatched a fine
spot-kick past Galindez, maintaining eye contact with the keeper as the ball
went in.
Ecuador started the second half fresher and more
determined, perhaps reassured that the Netherlands’ dominance over Qatar meant
they only needed a draw to go through.
From a free-kick, defender Felix Torres rose high to
head the ball on to Caicedo, who was waiting at the far post and slammed the
ball home.
Senegal struck back immediately and in almost
identical fashion, with Koulibaly lurking unmarked at the far post following a
free-kick which was deflected into his path by Hincapie.
Coming into the match on a yellow card, Gueye picked up a
second-half booking and will miss Senegal’s last-16 game against the winners of
Group B.
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