Senegal boost World Cup knockout hopes with record-breaking win over 10-man Iraq | OneFootball

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

Standings provided bySofascore

Senegal became the first African side to score five goals in a single World Cup game by thrashing 10-man Iraq 5-0 to eliminate them from their second appearance at the tournament.

Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra scored his first international goal for a year by getting the final touch on a Abdoulaye Seck’s header, followed by Rebin Sulaka being dismissed for denying a clear scoring chance by pulling back Sadio Mané.

Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, and Pape Gueye’s phenomenal brace completed their best ever winning margin to send their side fifth in the third-placed teams ranking and secure a provisional spot in the round of 32 starting on June 28th.

As it happened

Iraq’s quest to stay in the World Cup couldn’t have started much worse, conceding from the second corner of the game when an unmarked Abdoulaye Seck headed the ball into the ground and then off of teammate Diarra on its way past the goalkeeper.

Then having conceded possession to Sadio Mané not far from goal, right-back Sulaka was judged by a VAR check to have denied an obvious goalscoring chance by pulling the shirt of the former Liverpool winger.

The yellow card initially branded by referee Anthony Taylor was then upgraded to a red, just as Mané brought out a good save from Ahmed Fadhil appearing to fall awkwardly on his shoulder – an incident that forced him off injured at half-time.

Senegal were on the hunt for breathing space as Galatasaray left back Ismael Jacobs found himself forward and with the rare chance to score, firing back across goal from the left and just wide of the post with half an hour gone.

Mané was racing into the penalty area in first-half stoppage time looking to put the game beyond Iraq’s reach and wasn’t far away, lashed his shot just over the crossbar.

Ismalia Sarr saw his first real opening of the game parried by substitute keeper Jalal Hassan after being put in on goal by Diarra, but was on the scoresheet moments later as Zidane Iqbal gave it away to Lamine Camara deep inside his own territory.

The Crystal Palace winger turned his easiest chance of the World Cup so far into the roof of the net, putting Senegal in cruise control.

Pape Gueye had been on the pitch for 89 seconds before he curled a beautiful strike into the top left corner of the net and then put the gloss on his cameo by nearly taking the net off with a rasping shot from Everton forward Ndiaye’s cushioned header.

All-time leading Senegalse scorer Mané came within inches of number five with his cross-turned-shot striking the post, doing everything he could to improve his team’s goal difference.

Sarr took it to +2 with a rocket from the edge of the penalty area as Iraq backed off and allowed the Europa Conference League winner far too much time and space to show his quality in front of goal.

Ndiaye then made it five by finding the top corner from 20 yards, as Senegal ended their record-breaking final group game inside the top eight best third-placed teams, securing a provisional spot in the round of 32.

Graham Arnold’s team could only relish the six minutes they had left in the World Cup before the final whistle sounded, marking an essential victory for Senegal in the third and final group game in Toronto.

For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.

Senegal – Iraq Live Score