Senegal tombs Ecuador and will dance in the round of 16

Senegal tombs Ecuador and will dance in the round of 16

The African champion takes advantage of the set pieces to be in the World Cup qualifiers 20 years later

MADRID, 29 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Senegal team will be in a World Cup qualifiers 20 years later after beating Ecuador (1-2) on the third and last day of a Group A that will be led by the Netherlands and in which the Africans, from less to more, they achieved a second pass that will allow their fans to dance in the round of 16.

Senegal needed to beat Ecuador to be in the round of 16, seeing that the Netherlands beat the already eliminated Qatar, and Aliou Cissé's pupils went all out, in a rush, towards an Ecuadorian goal defended by Hernán Galíndez that trembled and did not he could do nothing in the penalty and the side free kick in which the Africans found the goal.

The 'Lions of Teranga' are the current African champions and despite the absence due to injury of their 'Lion King' Sadio Mané they are still alive in Qatar 2022. They started with a (misleading) defeat against Louis van Gaal's 'oranje' but the victories against Qatar (1-3) and Ecuador allowed them to overcome adversity and keep smiling.

Four years ago, a fair play tiebreaker dramatically prevented Senegal from reaching the round of 16 (the place went to Japan). But this victory, deserved for their attitude and for having more and better chances, allows them to make up for it.

The stands of the Senegalese fans were dancing throughout the game but the big party began with the final whistle. Three shots that allowed them to overcome the challenge of returning, 20 years later, to the crosses and getting closer, one more step, to those quarterfinals they signed in Korea and Japan 2002, with the now selected Aliou Cissé as a player.

Senegal was better, especially at the start and final part of the match. In fact, in the first 10 minutes they enjoyed three good chances. First, with Idrissa Gana Gueye and a shot that caressed the outside of the side netting. Later, with a cross shot from Dia and a center of death without, by centimeters, a finisher.

It had to be from the fateful point. A penalty from Piero Hincapié to Ismaïla Sarr, who was completely overwhelmed, was taken advantage of by the Watford winger himself to put his team ahead on the brink of rest, which was reached with that 0-1.

Ecuador, which needed a goal, did not go crazy. Little by little, Gustavo Félix Torres' men combed it and Moisés Caicedo finished off at will to equalize the score. At that moment, the 'Tri' was in the round of 16.

But three minutes later, the Africans paid them in kind thanks to captain Kalidou Koulibaly. In a lateral free kick and after a bad rebound from the Ecuadorian defense, Koulibaly scored free, crossing the ball with a powerful volley that made the Senegalese fans burst with joy, who will continue to celebrate for Qatar.

--RESULT: ECUADOR, 1 - SENEGAL, 2 (0-1, at halftime).

ECUADOR: Galindez; Preciado (Porozo, min.85), Torres, Hincapié, Estupiñán; Gruezo (Cifuentes, min.46), Franco (Sarmiento, min.46), Caicedo; Silver, Estrada (Reasco, min.64) and Valencia.

SENEGAL: E. Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, Jakobs; Ciss (N. Mendy, min. 74), A. Gueye; Ndiaye (Dieng, min. 74), I. Gueye, Sarr; y Dia (Pape Cisse, min. 90 5).

0-1. Min.44, Sarr (p).

1-1. Min.67, Caidedo.

1-2. Min. 70, Koulibaly.

--REFEREE: Clement Turpin (FRA). He admonished I.Gueye (min.66) in Senegal.

--STADIUM: Khalifa International.