Pape Gueye matches Nicolas Pepe as Villarreal duo hit World Cup braces | OneFootball

Pape Gueye and Nicolas Pepe delivered standout World Cup turns for Villarreal, one rescuing Senegal, the other propelling Ivory Coast.

El Periódico Mediterráneo reports that Villarreal are already featuring prominently at the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

On Thursday night Pepe hit both goals in Ivory Coast’s 0-2 win over Curaçao, a result that sealed a place in the knockouts and second in Group E. He opened the scoring in minute seven, then struck again in minute 64.

The brace burnished the 31-year-old winger’s tournament and boosted Villarreal. It also marked the first time Ivory Coast have advanced beyond a group stage at a global finals.

Senegal needed a heavy win over Iraq to keep alive hopes of progressing as one of the eight best third-placed teams. With the score 2-0 and Iraq down to 10, Gueye came on around the hour and hit two in 13 minutes to turn the goal difference positive.

He then supplied the fifth, and is the only World Cup player to come off the bench and register two goals plus an assist.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo