With a stunning 2-1 victory over Ecuador, Senegal advanced to the round of 16 of the World Cup, eliminating the South American team in their wake.
A thrilling 70th-minute winner by captain Kalidou Koulibaly on Tuesday at Khalifa International Stadium guaranteed the African champion’s advancement to the knockout round just moments after Moises Caicedo had tied the score for Ecuador.
Senegal would have been eliminated from Group A if the score had remained tied at one. Ecuador would have advanced.
After Ismaila Sarr’s certain penalty gave Senegal the lead just before halftime, the end-to-end thriller ensued. They deservedly earned the point for dominating the first quarter against a team that was content to relax and try to withstand the pressure.
With six points from their three games, Senegal came in second place in Group A, two points ahead of Ecuador, whose tournament showed great potential but finally came to a heartbreaking conclusion.
In the second Group A game on Tuesday, the Netherlands defeated Qatar 2-0 to take first place, capping a disastrous tournament for the hosts, who finished in last place after earning zero points in their three games.
Senegal last made it past the group stage at the 2002 World Cup, when they made their tournament debut and went to the quarterfinals.
This time around, they were successful despite the absence of star forwards Sadio Mane, who had his World Cup dream dashed on the night of the event due to a knee injury that prevented him from travelling to Qatar.
Idrissa Gana Gueye of Everton smashed the ball just wide of the goal after three minutes as the game got underway. Everton’s coach Aliou Cisse had promised before the game that his experienced side “would not overthink” the occasion.
A counterattack that was well outside of his area was stopped by Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez less than a minute later in order to save his team’s high backline.
Senegal’s Boulaye Dia found himself one-on-one with Galindez at the ten-minute mark, but he sliced the ball just wide of the post.
Senegal’s aggressive start seems to have given Ecuador energy. The South Americans took advantage of the opportunity for a rare break as they advanced and won a free kick 30 meters (33 yards) from goal, but skipper Enner Valencia blasted the ball into the wall.
Following the frenzied opening exchanges, both teams started to calm down when Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie collided with Sarr, forcing referee Clement Turpin to indicate to the spot. Galindez was out of position when Sarr stepped up and calmly converted a good spot kick while keeping eye contact with him.
Ecuador entered the second half with renewed energy and vigour, possibly comforted by the Netherlands’ victory over Qatar, which meant they only needed a draw to advance.
Felix Torres, a defender, leapt high to head the ball from a free kick to Caicedo, who was waiting at the far post and blasted it home.
After a free kick was deflected into his path by Hincapie, Senegal responded quickly and almost identically, with Koulibaly lying unnoticed at the far post.
Gueye, who entered the game with a caution, was issued a second-half booking and will be unavailable for Senegal’s matchup with the group’s victor—currently England—in the round of 16.
Wales is now in fourth place, followed by Iran, the United States, and Iran.
