Sport

FIFA World Cup 2022: Senegal register first win of tournament with 3-1 win over hosts Qatar

November 25, 2022
Bharat Times

FIFA World Cup 2022: Goals from Boulaye Dia, Famara Didhiou and Bamba Dieng helped Senegal beat hosts Qatar 3-1 in their Group A match at the Al Thumama Stadium. Mohammad Muntari scored the lone goal for the hosts and became the first goalscorer for the country. Senegal also enjoyed 55 percent more possession than Qatar, which only had 45.

The African side also had five shots on target, compared to Qatar, who had three. In the fourth minute, Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr had a right footed shot from a difficult angle close to the right but missed to the right. Eleven minutes later, Qatar’s Akram Afif’s right footed shot from outside the box went over the goal post.

In the 20th minute, Qatar’s Ismail Mohammad was shown a yellow card for a bad foul. Four minutes later, Idrissa Gueye fired a right-footed shot from outside the box, assisted by Crepin Dutta, but the effort went wide. Another effort from Qatar went high when Abdelkarim Hassan’s left footed shot from outside the box went over. In the 30th minute, an assist from Edouard Mendy helped Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr to take a right footed shot from outside the box but was saved into the bottom left corner.

In the 41st minute, Boulay Dia’s right-footed shot from the center of the box helped Senegal take a 1–0 lead, which they held until half-time.

In the second half too, Senegal looked more confident scoring a goal in the 48th minute. Mohammad Muntari pulled a goal back for Qatar in the 78th minute. Muntri’s header cross from the center of the box, assisted by Ismail Mohammed, went into the bottom left corner.

Muntari became the first player to score a goal for his country in the FIFA World Cup. His goal sent a wave of happiness among the fans. But six minutes later the joy of the home fans was short-lived as Bamba Dieng once again opened up a two-goal lead for Senegal. The West African player maintained this lead till the end and took the match 3-1 in his favour. (With ANI inputs)