African champions Senegal defeated World Cup hosts Qatar 3 – 1 in their second group game played at the Al Thumama Stadium this afternoon.
Boulaye Dia put the West Africans ahead just 4 minutes to halftime. Upon resumption from the break, Senegal continued with the intensity they ended the first half with and their pressure paid off when Famara Diedhiou scored a beautiful header from a corner kick in the 48th minute.
A string of wonderful saves from Édouard Mendy kept the two-goal cushion until Ghanaian-born Mohammed Muntari scored Qatar’s first-ever goal at a World Cup to make it 1 – 2.
Bamba Dieng scored the winner after scoring from a beautiful shot to make it 3 – 1 in favor of the Senegalese.
The result sees them rise off the foot of the table to third and the defeat for the Qataris has confirmed their exit from the tournament with a game to spare.
