Senegal put Iraq to the sword
Senegal became the first African team to score five goals at a World Cup after they thrashed 10-man Iraq 5-0 at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada on Friday, June 26.
Habib Diarra broke the deadlock early on and it looked like Pape Thiaw's side would run riot in the first half after Rebin Sulaka was sent off on 13 minutes, but they took their foot off the gas.
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The second half was a completely different story, however, as the Lions of Teranga scored another four goals through Ismaila Sarr, Pape Gueye (two) and Iliman Ndiaye to boost their chances of qualifying for the round of 32.
The West Africans needed a win to keep their World Cup hopes alive after losing their opening two matches against France (3-1) and Norway (3-2), while the Lions of Mesopotamia were in a similar position but with a far worse goal difference following heavy defeats to Landslaget (4-1) and Les Bleus (3-0).
Senegal couldn't have dreamed of making a better start when they hit the front after just four minutes, with the ball going in off Diarra's body from an in-swinging corner.
Iraq's night went from bad to worse nine minutes later as Rebin Sulaka, who was initially only booked for tugging back Sadio Mane as he raced through on goal, received a straight red card following a VAR review.
Mane looked to make them pay from the resulting free-kick which he whipped towards the top left corner, but Ahmed Basil made the save and Sarr then went close on 17 minutes with a volley from just inside the box that flew narrowly over the crossbar.
The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations champions struggled to make their numerical advantage count for the remainder of the first half, although Ismail Jakobs had a chance when he drove a shot inches wide of the right post from inside the area on 33 minutes, while Mane just cleared the target with a strike from 18 yards out in the first minute of added time after a solo run.
Senegal came out with renewed purpose in the second half and Mane was a fraction away from doubling their lead with a shot that flew just wide of the right post on 51 minutes after latching onto a lofted pass from Ibrahim Mbaye.
Sarr drew a save out of halftime substitute Jalal Hassan three minutes later after unleashing a low strike from inside the box, but the second goal finally arrived on 56 minutes following a mistake from Iraq.
Zidane Iqbal gave away possession deep inside his own half and Lamine Camara squared the ball to Sarr, who slotted home from close range.
Two quickly became three as Gueye received a splendid pass from Sarr and smashed a first-time shot into the bottom right corner of the net on 59 minutes with his first touch of the game.
Gueye was on target again 12 minutes later with an even better strike that fizzed into the top left corner of the net from 18 yards out, giving Hassan no chance in the Iraq goal.
Ndiaye rounded off the scoring in the 82nd minute as he drilled a shot past the keeper at his near post from 20 yards out after being invited to shoot.
Senegal (1) 5 (Diarra 4', Sarr 56', Gueye 59', 71', Ndiaye 82')
Iraq 0
Senegal: M. Diaw, K. Diatta, A. Seck (P. Ciss 58'), M. Niakhate, I. Jakobs, H. Diarra (P. Gueye 57'), I. Gueye, L. Camara (N. Jackson 57'), I. Mbaye (I. Ndiaye 57'), I. Sarr (A. Diao 81'), S. Mane.
Iraq: A. Basil (J. Hassan 46'), F. Putros, R. Sulaka, A. Hashim, M. Doski, Z. Iqbal (K. Yakob 67'), A. Al-Ammari, A. Qasem (M. Younis 16'), A. Jasim (A. Maknzi 58'), I. Bayesh, A. Al-Hamadi (A. Yousif 58').
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