Senegal delivered a dominant performance against Iraq, securing a 5-0 victory in their final Group I match. This emphatic win, which took place in Toronto, has significantly improved their chances of advancing to the World Cup knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams. The result marked a historic moment for Senegal, as they became the first African nation to score five goals in a men’s World Cup match.
The Lions of Teranga, needing a convincing win to keep their tournament hopes alive after consecutive defeats, responded decisively. The scoring began early, with Habib Diarra finding the net in the fourth minute. The match took a critical turn shortly after when Iraq defender Rebin Sulaka received a red card in the 13th minute, leaving his team with 10 men for the majority of the game.
Early Advantage and Red Card Incident
Senegal‘s opening goal came from a corner, with Lamine Camara‘s delivery headed towards goal by Abdoulaye Seck. The ball then glanced off Habib Diarra before going past Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil, giving Senegal an early lead. This early breakthrough set the tone for the match.
Minutes later, Iraq‘s challenge became even steeper. Rebin Sulaka was dismissed after hauling down Sadio Mané, who was making a run towards goal. Initially, referee Anthony Taylor showed a yellow card, but after consulting the video monitor, the decision was upgraded to a red card. This incident, which was the ninth red card of the tournament and the sixth for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, meant Iraq had to play with a numerical disadvantage for over 75 minutes.
Despite playing with 10 men, Iraq managed to hold off Senegal for the remainder of the first half, frustrating their opponents who enjoyed the majority of possession. However, the second half saw a complete shift in momentum, as Senegal capitalized on their advantage.
Second-Half Onslaught and Historic Goals
The second half saw Senegal unleash a relentless attack. Ismaïla Sarr doubled their lead in the 56th minute, scoring from close range. This goal marked his fourth World Cup goal, making him Senegal‘s all-time leading scorer in the tournament. Sarr also became the first Senegal player to both score and assist in the same World Cup match.
Substitute Pape Gueye then made a significant impact, scoring two sensational long-range goals. His first came just before the hour mark, following a pass from Sarr. Gueye dribbled to his left and unleashed a left-footed strike that curled into the top corner, past Jalal Hassan. His second goal, in the 71st minute, was a powerful half-volley from Iliman Ndiaye‘s bouncing pass, leaving the goalkeeper with little chance.
Gueye‘s brace made him the first Senegal player to score at least two goals as a substitute in a World Cup match. The scoring was completed in the 82nd minute by Iliman Ndiaye, who also scored with a long-range effort, ensuring five different players contributed to the goal tally. Remarkably, Sarr, Gueye, and Ndiaye all finished the match with both a goal and an assist, a feat not seen since Germany‘s 7-1 victory over Brazil in the 2014 semi-final.
This comprehensive victory not only secured Senegal a third-place finish in Group I, behind France and Norway, but also significantly boosted their goal difference to +2. They currently hold the fifth-best record among third-placed sides, positioning them favorably for one of the eight third-place spots in the last 32. However, their qualification remains dependent on the outcomes of the remaining group-stage fixtures, which are scheduled to conclude on Saturday.
For Iraq, the defeat meant their elimination from the tournament, marking their second World Cup exit and first since 1986. Despite being underdogs, their hopes of securing their first World Cup points were dashed early in the match.
Source: theguardian.com
