FIFA World Cup 2022: Senegal keeps qualification hopes alive with 3-1 win over Qatar

African Champions Senegal kept their Round of 16 qualification hopes alive with a 3-1 win over Qatar in their Group A match on Friday.

Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhou and Bamba Dieng were on the scoresheet for Senegal, while Mohamed Muntari pulled one back for Qatar.

The match started with a high tempo and it was Senegal who had the first shot on goal in the third minute. Ismaila Sarr found some space and danced his way into the Qatar box but his shot was wide and hit the side netting.

Five minutes later, Nampalys Mendy unleashed a shot from outside the box and it went wide of the mark. Both teams kept applying pressure onto each other’s boxes with Qatar finding its foot in the game. However, the Senegalese defence was rock solid and kept the host nation at bay.

Senegal continued putting crosses into the Qatar box and their persistence was rewarded in the 40th minute when a mistake from the Qatari defense allowed Dia to pounce and slot the ball past Meshaal Barsham to give the African champions the lead.

The second half started in grand fashion for Senegal as they extended their lead from a corner in the 48th minute. The ball was whipped into the box and Famara Diedhiou gave the Qatari goalkeeper no chance to make a save.

Qatar did create a few chances after the second goal and kept knocking on the door but to no avail as the Senegalese defence stood strong and resolute.

Abdelkarim Hassan unleashed a shot in the 60th minute that had Edouard Mendy in trouble for some time and forced him to call for more protection from his backline. The Senegalese goalkeeper was called into action a few minutes later as he denied Almoez Ali from pulling one back.

By this time, the momentum was with the hosts as they wrestled control of the game away from Senegal. Mendy then made a world-class save to deny Qatar from scoring a definite goal in the 66th minute as the Senegal goalkeeper regained form at the right moment.

However, Qatar wouldn’t be denied for much longer as substitute Mohamed Muntari made an instant impact and pulled a goal back in the 78th minute. This was their first-ever World Cup goal.

Dieng, however, ended the hopes of the host nation at the end of the day with a first-time finish in the 83rd minute. This all but secured the three points for the African Champions, who will now face Ecuador in their final group game.

Qatar is all set to exit the tournament in the group stages and will become the second host nation to do so in the history of the competition.