Senegal vs Ecuador Highlights: Captain Koulibaly scores winner as Senegal beat Ecuador 2-1 to enter World Cup last 16 | Football News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Captain Kalidou Koulibaly rose to the occasion as he fired home the winner in the 70th minute to send Senegal into the last 16 with a 2-1 win against Ecuador at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Tuesday.
With this win, the African team made it to the knockout phase of the World Cup for the second time. Senegal finished on six points in Group A, one behind the Netherlands who beat hosts Qatar 2-0.
Ecuador, who needed a draw to qualify for the last 16 for the second time after 2006, ended up third on four points after a game played to the relentless beat of the Senegal fans’ drums.

Ismaila Sarr converted the penalty in the 44th minute to put Senegal in the lead, but Ecuador equalised through Moises Caicedo in the 67th minute.
That joy for the South Americans lasted only three minutes though as Koulibaly restored Senegal’s lead, which they were able to hold onto for the remainder of the match.
Senegal, who reached the quarter-finals in 2002 in their previous visit of the knockout phase, will face the winners of Group B, which features England, Iran, the United States and Wales.

Idrissa Gana Gueye fired wide early and Senegal striker Boulaye Dia had a superb chance when he had a clear sight of goal, but skewed his shot wide of the far post.
The decisive moment in the half came late on when Sarr was ploughed into by Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie and picked himself up to convert the spot-kick, leaving goalkeeper Hernan Galindez rooted to the spot as the shot nestled in the bottom corner.

The flow of the game changed in the second period as it was Senegal who were happy to sit back and a desperate Ecuador pressed for the equaliser.
It arrived midway through the half when Felix Torres flicked on a corner and Caicedo was unmarked at the back post to provide a simple finish. He is the first player other than Enner Valencia to score at the World Cup for Ecuador since Ivan Kaviedes in 2006.
The sizeable Ecuador support in the stands erupted in celebration, but that was halted shortly afterwards when Senegal struck again.
The South American side failed to clear a corner and the ball fell kindly for Koulibaly to volley into the net from six yards.