from AMADOU NDIAYE in Dakar, Senegal
Senegal Bureau
DAKAR, (CAJ News) – SENEGAL have fluffed a great opportunity to qualify for the last 16 stage of the World Cup after throwing away a 2-0 lead to lose to Belgium in dramatic fashion.
The penalty awarded to the eventual winners at the death might be a harsh decision, but the Senegalese were their own worst enemy through poor game management by coach Pape Thiaw and his players.
With a 2-2 deadlock in normal time, the Senegalese had snatched a draw from the jaws of victory, in what would have been one of the biggest upsets in recent tournament memory, against the dark horses.
The West African side conceded the goals in the last five minutes of normal time in a tournament that has thrilled with last-minute goals.
The Teranga Lions were deserved 2-0 leaders at half-time at Seattle Stadium late Wednesday night but, in the end, made things difficult for themselves with victory on the horizon.
Against the Red Devils in Seattle, the Senegalese started the brighter of the two sides.
They were duly rewarded after Habib Diarra’s close-range finish after the initial header by Ismaila Sarr bounced off the post.
It came following a dominant spell. The dangerous Sarr had earlier hit the same post after a blunder by Thibaut Courtois.
The forward was eventually rewarded in the 51st minute with a stunning goal. He chested down a long pass from Moussa Niakhaté and thumped it into the net with his second touch.
Romelu Lukaku, part of the “Golden Generation”, halved the deficit with a finish inside the six-yard box from a Thomas Meunier cross in the 86th minute.
The turnaround was complete in the 89th minute when Youri Tielemans headed in a Leandro Trossard cross with goalie Mory Diaw stranded.
The game would be decided in an edgy extra time.
With extra time looming, after a lengthy VAR check, Lamine Camara was adjudged to have fouled Tielemans. He dusted himself off and coolly converted to send Diaw the wrong way and Senegal home.
– CAJ News