from AMADOU NDIAYE in Dakar, Senegal
Senegal Bureau
DAKAR, (CAJ News) – FRANCE have exacted revenge on Senegal at the World Cup, registering a 3-1 victory, 24 years after their iconic opening match in South Korea.
This time, the old foes met in New York with France among the favourites and Senegal no longer the nonentities, in what was one of the most eagerly anticipated matches at the tournament ongoing in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Eventually, the French prevailed over the West Africans via second-half goals by captain-cum-talisman Kylian Mbappé (66th minute, 90th+6) and substitute Bradley Barcola (82nd), who scored moments after coming on.
Ibrahim Mbaye scored in the fifth minute of injury time to threaten a comeback, but Mbappé wrapped up the maximum points with arguably the goal of the tournament thus far a minute later.
The duel’s first half was not as entertaining as the second stanza, but the Teranga Lions will regret a missed sitter by Ismaila Sarr just before half-time.
Earlier, Senegal had hit the post in another squandered opportunity.
The Teranga Lions subsequently paid the price during the dramatic second half.
This was a tactical showdown between Didier Deschamps’ structured 4-2-3-1 formation for France, built on possession and transition attacks, and coach Pape Thiaw’s 4-3-3 system designed for counter-attacking football.
The result at the New York New Jersey Stadium catapults France to the top of Group I and leaves Senegal at the bottom.
– CAJ News