World Cup 2022: Ecuador 1-2 Senegal – Ismaila Sarr & Kalidou Koulibaly put Africans into last 16

Kalidou Koulibaly’s nerveless volley despatched Senegal into the World Cup’s knockout levels for less than the second time of their historical past as they eradicated Ecuador at a rowdy Khalifa International Stadium.

Ecuador wanted only a level to progress however paid the value for a passive show as Senegal have been spurred on by an virtually non-cease cacophony of drumming from their supporters in Al Rayyan.

Watford winger Sarr coolly stroked dwelling from the spot, after being clumsily upended by Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie, to put the African champions deservedly forward.

Ecuador levelled with their first actual likelihood as Caicedo swept dwelling Felix Torres’ flick-on however Koulibaly’s composed end instantly regained the lead for Senegal, who knew solely victory can be sufficient to undergo barring an unlikely Qatar upset towards the Netherlands.

They held out amid a nervy six minutes of stoppage time to complete as runners-up in Group A behind the Dutch, who clinched prime spot by handing the match hosts a 3rd defeat in three video games with a comfortable 2-0 win in Al Khor.

Aliou Cisse’s aspect are potential last-16 opponents for England given the Lions of Teranga will subsequent face the winners of Group B – a berth Gareth Southgate’s crew might seal in a while Tuesday.

Senegal discover targets regardless of lacking Mane

Much has been product of the absence of Senegal talisman Sadio Mane from this match by way of harm however they’ve discovered targets from elsewhere, their 5 to date in Qatar all coming from totally different gamers.

They discovered swathes of area in and across the Ecuador space early on because the South Americans started nervily however Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and Boulaye Dia each dragged glorious alternatives broad.

But Sarr, who had missed his two earlier penalties for his membership, confirmed composure from the spot to fit his aspect in entrance and their heads didn’t drop even when Caicedo levelled from a nook.

Victory secured a primary last-16 look since 2002, after they shocked France within the opening recreation on their method to the quarter-finals and, earlier than the sport, Senegal devoted their efforts to former Fulham and Portsmouth midfielder Papa Bouba Diop – scorer of the well-known winner towards the French – who died, two years in the past to the day, in 2020 aged 42.

They will, nevertheless, be with out influential midfielder Gueye, who will miss the second spherical – and what would have been his a hundredth cap – after he picked up a second yellow card of the match.

Senegal grew to become the primary African crew to beat a South American aspect on the World Cup since Cameroon towards Colombia in 1990, ending a 21-recreation winless run in such conferences, and are solely the third African nation to succeed in the knockout levels on two or extra events, emulating Nigeria and Ghana.

Entertaining Ecuador endure stage fright

Many Ecuador gamers lay prostrate on the pitch on the last whistle, some in tears, devastated at letting slip their likelihood of development – like Senegal that they had solely as soon as beforehand negotiated the group levels – and a face-down, clearly distraught Caicedo needed to be bodily hauled from the turf by crew-mates.

Ecuador had rightly earned plaudits for his or her opening two video games, having brushed apart Qatar and arguably been the higher aspect of their 1-1 draw with the Dutch – however they failed to breed that stage of efficiency below the stress of a digital winner-take-all surroundings.

Boss Gustavo Alfaro risked joint main World Cup scorer Enner Valencia regardless of the three-objective ahead being taken off on a stretcher late on towards the Netherlands, and he did not make any influence.

The 4 factors that they had accrued previous to the sport meant Ecuador might play for a draw however they didn’t appear to be a aspect that had stored seven successive clear sheets earlier in 2022 and Senegal took full benefit.

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