Celebration: Kalidou Koulibaly scored an impressive winning goal for Senegal against Ecuador in Doha
The yellow cards took Senegal out of the World Cup in Russia 4 years ago and for a brief moment it seemed that this time they could only be men in yellow shirts.
But after Moises Caicedo’s blank goal nullified Ismaila Sarr’s first game and set Ecuador’s course for the knockout stages, Kalidou Koulibaly provided the quickest response, his volley secured the position of the moment in Group A and sent the African champions to the knockout stages by just a momentary time. in its history.
The final whistle brought, for the first time in Qatar, that familiar scene of the tournament, with bands swapping breastplates tearing to greet one organization of players while the other collapsed on the turf.
Such an early start was difficult for Ecuador, whose skills in crushing Qatar and facing the Netherlands had designated them as a possible wonderful package in this tournament, but the South American team may not deliver a third performance of the same intensity.
For Senegal, a knockout clash with England awaits them if Gareth Southgate’s men secure the most sensible spot in Group B against Wales later in the evening.
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Ismaila Sarr gave Senegal a half-time lead after Ismaila Sarr’s brilliant penalty
It’s an emotional adjustment for both sides. For Senegal, the date marked the anniversary of the tragic untimely death of midfielder Papa Bouba Diop, whose goal in the surprise victory over France in 2002 introduced one of the wonderful stories of the oppressed at the World Cup. For Ecuador, the venue, Khalifa International Stadium, had been where the national hero of sprinter Alex Quiñonez, who was knocked down last year, had his most productive moment by winning the country’s first medal at the 2019 World Track Championships.
Koulibaly wore a heartfelt tribute to the late Diop, who died in November 2020 at the age of 42, on his captain’s armband on Tuesday.
For either nation, the wait for a World Cup qualifying moment had been long, with Senegal achieving that level since the celebrated 2002 race and Ecuador from a knockout defeat to a David Beckham free-kick and England 4 years later.
The penalty shootout has been Senegal’s bread and butter since the beginning of the year, with the name of the Africa Cup of Nations and qualification for the World Cup secured through shootout wins against Egypt. Sadio Mane had crushed the winning effort in the two standout wins, however, with the nation’s talisman injured, Watford’s Sarr took over after being hit by Piero Hincapie just before half-time.
Sarr had missed his last two consequences for the Hornets, adding a night against West Brom in August, when the winger missed 12 yards after scoring from 60. Here, however, he took a brilliant step, walking and striking firmly in the area. right angle of the descent when goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez shifted his weight in the other direction.
Moisés Caicedo’s tying goal puts Ecuador on its way to the knockout stages
Ecuador was at its most productive in this tournament when it faced groups in mid-flight, but starting the match with the point they needed seemed to inhibit Gustavo Alfaro’s team. The coach made a double substitution at half-time, sending Jeremy Sarmiento and Jose Cifuentes for Alan Franco and Carlos Gruezo to give momentum and suddenly it was Senegal who had everything to lose.
In the 67th minute he slipped, Felix Torres’ header located an unmarked Caicedo on the post of the moment, the Brighton midfielder played alongside a guy literally inside the goal as he was the first Ecuadorian besides Enner Valencia to score in a World Cup in more than 16 years.
Had Valencia scored, it would be the first man to blame for seven consecutive goals for a country in the tournament. It was not, you suspect, a record he was worried about losing, but within minutes there was a more genuine cause of despair, the attempt by the former West Ham striker to erase a foul by Idrissa Gueye on Koulibaly’s exit for the very good volley final that put Senegal back ahead.
Senegal qualify for World Cup for first time since 2002 quarterfinals
Billed as the tournament’s first coup de grace, it was now something of sudden death. Ecuador only wanted one purpose and Senegal, knowing the fragility of its advantage, might want another.
Six more minutes passed on the scoreboard, an Ecuadorian corner was taken and Edouard Mendy was left behind. Halfway through, Galíndez seemed tempted to sign up for the scrum in the penalty area, but something else was missing, falling from his hips in prayer.
The call, however, remained unanswered as Senegal, commanded through the Koulibaly, kept company to make his stay bigger.
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