Qatar failed to win a point from three games following losses to Colombia (1-0), Portugal (4-0) and Senegal (2-1) at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Hamilton, New Zealand.
By Our Correspondent/Hamilton, New Zealand
African giants Senegal yesterday struck twice within a space of six minutes late in the second half for a hard-fought 2-1 win over Qatar, who exited the FIFA Under-20 World Cup after a fighting performance. At Waikato Stadium, goals by captain and defender Alhassane Sylla (76) and striker Moussa Kone (81) erased the first-half penalty by Qatar’s Akram Afif (17).
In another Group C clash yesterday, Portugal hammered Colombia 3-1 to remain undefeated in three games. Portugal finished their Group C campaign with nine points while Colombia and Senegal could pocket four points from three games. Qatar, coached by Spaniard Felix Sanchez, failed to win a point from three games following losses to Colombia (1-0), Portugal (4-0) and Senegal (2-1).
After starting the match with four changes to the squad, Qatar broke free in the second minute through striker Afifi but his solo run ended tamely when the 18-year-old missed his target from close range.
After picking up a loose ball from the left flank in the third minute, Senegal midfielder Alassane Sow - positioned inside the Qatar box - clipped one into the net but the goal was declared off-side. Two minutes later, Senegal defender Moussa Wague curled in swinging shot into the Qatar box off a corner kick but team-mate Mamadou Thiam’s volley flew just inches over the crossbar.
Mounting another threatening attack, Senegal winger Ibrahima Wadji chipped in a beautiful lob ball which was cleared in front of the Qatar goalmouth by defender Tameem Almuhaza in the 10th minute.
Two minutes later, midfielder Abdullah Abdulsalam picked out striker Afif, who charged towards the Senegal goal but his misdirected shot missed the target by a few inches.
In the 17th minute, Qatar opened the scoring after striker Almoez Ali was brought down in the box by defender Mouahameth Sane with a reckless tackle close to Senegal goalmouth. German referee Felix Zwayer quickly pointed to the spot. Experienced striker Afif ended Qatar’s long goal drought with a well-placed penalty. Afif, who plays in Belgium, went to the right of Senegal goalkeeper Ibrahima Sy as Qatar fans celebrated their first goal in New Zealand.
It was Qatar’s first goal since Mohammed El Enazi found the net against Russia at the 1995 FIFA U-20 World Cup. A total of 411 minutes had elapsed since Enazi’s goal 20 years ago.
In the 23rd minute, defender Salem Al Hajri blocked a ferocious shot by Senegal striker Thaim on the edge of the Qatar box to ward off a threatening move.
In a rather tame end to a slick move Qatar captain Moein went for a long-range shot but missed the target by a country mile in the 31st minute. The skipper promptly apologised to his teammates. A couple of minutes later, Moussa Wahue brought down Qatar’s tireless defender Fahad Shanin resulting in a yellow card for the Senegal’s defender.
In the 39th minute, Qatar defender Abdullah Abdusalam charged into Senegal box but his ferocious shot was blocked by goalkeeper Sy who charged out of his spot to kill the dangerous move. Two minutes from the first-half whistle, Senegal midfielder Sow curled one for Sidy Saar positioned inside Qatar box. Sar jumped high and produced a snap-header that flew inches above the Qatar crossbar.
A minute later, Sow curled in a beautiful lob from the corner and once again Sarr dished out a header which flew above the Qatar crossbar.
As expected, both teams hit the ground running the second half, orchestrating bold moves. With pressure mounting, Senegal benched Wadji and brought in midfielder Rami Nassalan in the 56th minute.
At the one-hour mark, Senegal midfielder Kone went solo and fired a bullet from close range but his shot missed the target. Barely a minute later, Qatar goalkeeper Yousof Hassan punched away a curler fired by captain Alhassane Sylla.
Moments later, Senegal midfielder Sow - with all the space available to place his deflection - missed the Qatar goalpost as his shot from the edge of the box flew over the crossbar.
In the 73rd minute, striker Thiam curled one over the head of a charging Qatar goalkeeper but fortunately for the Maroons the ball looped over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Senegal struck gold. Senegal found the equalizer through captain Sylla who - after a goalmouth melee - lobbed a ball over goalkeeper Hassan from close range in the 76th minute.
Two minutes later, midfielder Saar went for a scissor kick that slipped past Qatar goalpost as a relentless Senegal went on the attack.
Nine minutes from time, Senegal found for the second time as Kone flicked a shot home from close range after a through pass from Malick Niang. Qatar substitute Ahmed al-Sadi curled a superbly-taken free kick in the 82nd minute but his swinging shot was saved by a diving Senegal goalkeeper.
To round up Senegal’s complete dominance in the second half, midfielder Mamadou Ndiaye fired a long-range some 30 yards from the goal-line but his bullet missed the target by a few inches.
