Hosts Qatar are observing one of many earliest exits ever by a bunch nation from the World Cup once they had been subjected to the 3-1 loss by Senegal, their second consecutive defeat this match, on the Al Thumama Stadium on Friday. A win or draw for Netherlands in opposition to Ecuador will sign Qatar’s exit from the match.
Qatar started their recreation hamstrung by the identical technical imbalance that plagued them within the opener. The Qataris may have taken a leaf out of the playbook of the Saudis and adopted the concept of a excessive line of defence. Nevertheless it was clear from the opening ten minutes that it was going to be an identical story to their 0-2 defeat within the opener.
If the ahead line tried to remain on the throats of the Senegal backline, their midfield most well-liked to hold again. The midfield ought to ideally have been pushed ahead by the defensive position to play within the opposition half and help their crew’s assault. The hole between the midfield and the assault meant that each time the Qataris had possession within the last quarter of the pitch, they had been met with a sea of returning Senegalese gamers and no help from their very own.
This must be a match the place Qatar both scored from a set piece or had been bestowed with a bit of excellent fortune. They might obtain neither.
Senegal nearly scored within the sixteenth minute when a nook was whipped into the Qatari field and goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham flew by way of the air, making an attempt to land a punch on the ball. He fully missed, nearly conceded a aim and was saved by the shortage of connection from the striker Famara Diedhiou.
Carry off for Senegal 🙌@adidasfootball | #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 25, 2022
Qatar screamed for a penalty within the thirty third minute after Ismaila Sarr barged into Akrif Afif. However the referee noticed that the participant had discreetly put himself within the path of the defender within the last second to get the foul, and properly disallowed it.
However the dwelling crew’s run of holding onto pricey life got here to an finish within the thirty ninth minute. It was a mistake from central defender Boualem Khoukhi, a mistake that was coming contemplating the rising variety of them being dedicated by the Qataris throughout the pitch. A curled move on the bottom, one that ought to simply have been cleared by Khoukhi within the field, was bungled and the mishit landed straight on the doorstep of Boulaye Dia, who made no error in slotting the ball previous the Qatari goalkeeper.
It might be the final motion of be aware as Qatar went down the tunnel, figuring out they’d 45 extra minutes to save lots of their first ever World Cup marketing campaign.
Diedhiou made up for his missed header within the first half to right away put Senegal up by one other aim within the opening minutes of the second half. The aim got here from an Ismail Jakobs nook and was met by the No 10, who moved swiftly to the close to put up and glanced a header into the alternative finish of the aim. Qatar wanted a response from their crew but it surely was not conceding one other aim.
Two targets down and beginning at an exit from the World Cup in their very own yard, Qatar began to get up. Urgency began to creep up into their ranks, their defenders began to carry a better line.
The Qatar comeback appeared on once they long-established the right alternative to attain. A ball from deep within the left by Assim Madibo within the 67th minute got here into the Senegalese field with Ismail Mohammed open and never guarded. Mohammed mishit the ball however even that try ought to have gone into aim however Eduoard Mendy, the Senegalese custodian dropped low to his left and palmed the ball away for a save. Qatar had been beginning to inch nearer to a aim however time was not an ally.
And ten minutes later Qatar scored their first ever World Cup aim. Mohammed, who had missed a chance mere minutes in the past, created a lifeline for his crew, dropping a cross from the suitable flank into the field. Substitute Mohammed Muntari attacked the cross, jumped over Koulibaly to attain for the hosts.
Qatar’s resolve to make a comeback lasted all of six minutes. Senegal’s third aim of the evening got here when Youssouf Sabaly handed the ball onto Iliman Ndiaye, who was positioned on the suitable of the Qatari field. From there, the midfielder reduce the move into the field to Bamba Dieng, who misplaced Khoukhi to slap the ball into the Qatari internet and basically sign the top of Qatar’s World Cup hopes.