Koulibaly sends Senegal into World Cup last 16

3 years ago 37

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By Michael BeardmoreBBC Sport

Last updated on 7 minutes ago.From the section World Cup

Kalidou Koulibaly's nerveless volley sent Senegal into the World Cup's knockout stages for only the second time in their history as they eliminated Ecuador at a rowdy Khalifa International Stadium.

All three goals came from players based in England as Ecuador's Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo cancelled out a penalty by Watford's Ismaila Sarr before Chelsea defender Koulibaly's side-footer won it.

Ecuador needed just a point to progress but paid the price for a passive display as Senegal were spurred on by an almost non-stop cacophony of drumming from their supporters in Al Rayyan.

Watford winger Sarr coolly stroked home from the spot, after being clumsily upended by Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie, to put the African champions deservedly ahead.

Ecuador levelled with their first real chance as Caicedo swept home Felix Torres' flick-on but Koulibaly's composed finish immediately regained the lead for Senegal, who knew only victory would be enough to go through barring an unlikely Qatar upset against the Netherlands.

They held out amid a nervy six minutes of stoppage time to finish as runners-up in Group A behind the Dutch, who clinched top spot by handing the tournament hosts a third defeat in three games with a comfortable 2-0 win in Al Khor.

Aliou Cisse's side are potential last-16 opponents for England given the Lions of Teranga will next face the winners of Group B - a berth Gareth Southgate's team could seal later on Tuesday.

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Ecuador

Squad number1Player nameGalíndez
Squad number17Player namePreciado
Squad number2Player nameTorres
Squad number3Player nameHincapié
Squad number7Player nameEstupiñán
Squad number21Player nameFranco
Squad number8Player nameGruezo
Squad number23Player nameCaicedo
Squad number19Player namePlata
Squad number11Player nameEstrada
Squad number13Player nameE Valencia

Squad number5Player nameCifuentes
Squad number16Player nameSarmiento
Squad number24Player nameReasco
Squad number25Player namePorozo

Senegal

Squad number16Player nameMendy
Squad number21Player nameSabaly
Squad number3Player nameKoulibaly
Squad number22Player nameDiallo
Squad number14Player nameJakobs
Squad number11Player nameCiss
Squad number26Player nameGueye
Squad number13Player nameNdiaye
Squad number5Player nameGueye
Squad number18Player nameSarr
Squad number9Player nameDia

Squad number4Player nameCissé
Squad number6Player nameMendy
Squad number20Player nameDieng

Line-ups

Ecuador

Formation 4-3-3

1Galíndez
17PreciadoSubstituted forPorozoat 85'minutes
2Torres
3Hincapié
7Estupiñán
21FrancoSubstituted forSarmientoat 45'minutes
8GruezoSubstituted forCifuentesat 45'minutes
23Caicedo
19Plata
11EstradaSubstituted forReascoat 64'minutes
13E Valencia

Substitutes

4Arboleda
5Cifuentes
6Pacho
9Preciado
10Ibarra
12Ramírez
14Arreaga
15Mena
16Sarmiento
18Palacios
22Domínguez
24Reasco
25Porozo
26Rodríguez

Senegal

Formation 4-2-3-1

16Mendy
21Sabaly
3Koulibaly
22Diallo
14Jakobs
11CissSubstituted forMendyat 74'minutes
26Gueye
13NdiayeSubstituted forDiengat 75'minutes
5GueyeBooked at 66mins
18Sarr
9DiaSubstituted forCisséat 90+5'minutes

Substitutes

1Dieng
2Mendy
4Cissé
6Mendy
7Jackson
10N'Diaye
12Ballo-Touré
15Diatta
17Sarr
19Diédhiou
20Dieng
23Gomis
24Name
25Loum

Referee:Clément Turpin

Attendance:44,569

Live Text

Match ends, Ecuador 1, Senegal 2.
Second Half ends, Ecuador 1, Senegal 2.
Foul by Pervis Estupiñán (Ecuador).
Youssouf Sabaly (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Senegal. Pape Abou Cissé replaces Boulaye Dia.
Attempt missed. Jackson Porozo (Ecuador) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jeremy Sarmiento with a cross.
Hand ball by Bamba Dieng (Senegal).
Corner, Ecuador. Conceded by Édouard Mendy.
Corner, Ecuador. Conceded by Idrissa Gueye.
Foul by Jackson Porozo (Ecuador).
Ismail Jakobs (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Jeremy Sarmiento (Ecuador) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Pervis Estupiñán with a cross.
Attempt saved. Pape Gueye (Senegal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bamba Dieng.
Foul by Piero Hincapié (Ecuador).
Bamba Dieng (Senegal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Félix Torres (Ecuador).
Youssouf Sabaly (Senegal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Gonzalo Plata (Ecuador) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Nampalys Mendy (Senegal).
Substitution, Ecuador. Jackson Porozo replaces Angelo Preciado.