Senegal knocks Ecuador out of World Cup
Because the Netherlands is almost impossible to lose to Qatar with a difference of two or more goals, Ecuador and Senegal are determined to eliminate each other in the final round of the group stage. Ecuador only needs to draw, and Senegal must win. The task of the African representative was more difficult, but they took the initiative and played dominating in the first half. Senegal pushed the pressure back on Ecuador, when Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring at half-time from the penalty spot.
The situation reversed continuously in the second half, when Ecuador and Senegal respectively were forced to score to continue. Ecuador did it with a 68th-minute equalizer from Moses Caicedo, but Senegal regained the lead after just two minutes, thanks to a strike from captain Kalidou Koulibaly. Keeping the score 2-1, Senegal won tickets to continue in Group A with the Netherlands - the team that won Qatar 2-0 in the match at the same time.
The game is decided by set pieces, and by players playing in England. At the opening goal, Ismaila Sarr brought a penalty for Senegal after being fouled by Piero Hincapie in the penalty area. It was the Watford striker who fooled goalkeeper Galindez to help the African representative get ahead.
Because the main team Enner Valencia was not in the best shape, Ecuador played sporadically and lacked cohesion. In the match that represented South America's worst performance since the beginning of the tournament, they still found an equalizer from the corner. Felix Torres headed the ball, letting young Brighton talent Moses Caicedo kick into the empty goal.
The most important goal belongs to a Chelsea player. Central defender Kalidou Koulibaly chose a favorable position from the free kick, cushioning the ball to seal the victory for Senegal. Ironically for Ecuador, hero Valencia in a defensive effort brought the ball to the right position of Koulibaly.
Four years ago, Senegal was painfully eliminated in the group stage by being inferior to Japan in the fair-play index. At that time, they lost to Colombia 0-1 in the last match from a corner. The same scenario did not repeat, although the students of Aliou Cisse once again let another South American representative concede a goal from the corner.
Senegal became the 5th team, after Brazil, France, Portugal and the Netherlands to participate in the knockout round of the 2022 World Cup. For the first time in 20 years, they did this. Second place in Group A, Senegal will meet the winner of Group B in the round of 16. That will most likely be England. The African representative will suffer a great loss when the main midfielder Idrissa Gueye is suspended, due to receiving two yellow cards.
