Senegal became the first African side to score five goals in a World Cup match, thrashing a 10-man Iraq 5-0 in their final Group I fixture on Friday to dramatically boost their chances of advancing as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
The result leaves Senegal with the best goal difference among teams on three points, while Iraq exit the tournament without a single point following a deeply disappointing campaign.
Senegal drew first blood through Habib Diarra, who got the slightest of touches to Abdoulaye Seck’s header from a corner for his first international goal since a friendly against England last year. Iraq’s slim hopes of recovery were dealt a near-fatal blow minutes later when defender Rebin Sulaka, making his first start of the tournament, was red-carded by English referee Anthony Taylor following a VAR review for fouling Sadio Mane when the striker was clear on goal. It was the earliest red card of the nine issued so far in this World Cup and the fourth fastest in the tournament’s history.
Iraq struggled to create anything in the remainder of the first half, and Senegal, despite their numerical advantage, came closest only through Ismail Jacobs, whose fierce strike from outside the box went just wide.
The second half was a different story. Ismaila Sarr tapped in Senegal’s second in the 56th minute, his third goal of the tournament, after former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal gifted possession deep inside his own half. Then came the Pape Gueye show. Within 89 seconds of coming on as a substitute, the Villarreal midfielder curled a sublime effort from outside the box past the helpless keeper for 3-0. He possibly surpassed that effort 12 minutes later with a vicious half-volley that flew into the net. Iliman Ndiaye added a fifth with a screamer eight minutes from time, sending the Senegal fans into delirium and leaving Iraq coach Graham Arnold shaking his head ruefully on the touchline.
