Senegal wins as Qatar becomes first host to lose first two World Cup games

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The first host country to lose the opening game of the World Cup, Qatar also became the only hosts to be defeated in the opening two rounds of the World Cup group stage when they were beaten by Senegal 3-1 this Friday ( 25).

With that score, Senegal conquers the first points in the World Cup, while Qatar remains zero.

Even in this situation, the Middle East nation is still not mathematically eliminated, although the classification is very difficult. To proceed to the round of 16, Holland needs to lose to Ecuador this Friday afternoon. In this way, Ecuador would go to 6 points and guarantee the first place. Then, in the last round of the group, the Qatari team would have to defeat the Dutch and Ecuador also beat Senegal.

In this scenario, Ecuador would be 9 points in the lead and the other three teams would add 3 points, with the vacancy defined by the tie-breaking criteria, in this sequence: goal difference, total number of goals scored; points obtained in direct confrontation; difference of goals between the teams in the direct confrontation; and better fair play (yellow card is minus 1; indirect red (second yellow) is minus 3; direct red is minus 4; yellow card + direct red is minus 5 points). If the selections still remain tied, a draw will be held by the Organizing Committee of the Cup.

Regarding the duel at the Al Thumama stadium, in Doha, the African country dominated completely, more effective in attack and secure in defense. Insisting so much, Boulaye Dia opened the scoring at 41min of the first half, with a shot from inside the area after defender Khoukhi failed to cut a cross and the ball was left free for Dia.

Famara Diédhiou scored just 2 minutes into the second half, with a header, showering the Qatari crowd in the stadium with cold water.

After taking the second goal, Qatar decided to go for it and created some good opportunities. In the best of them, Almoez Ali shot low into the corner, but the Senegalese goalkeeper Mendy deflected it with his fingertips for a corner.

The goalkeeper saved Senegal again in the 22nd minute, when he reflexively saved Mohammed’s point-blank shot from the edge of the small area.

The team’s efforts paid off with Mohammed Muntari’s header at 32 minutes, giving hope to the crowd. However, the joy of the home team did not last long, as Bamba Dieng doubled for the rival six minutes later.

In the last round, on Tuesday (29), with the two games at the same time (12:00h, Brasília time), Qatar faces Holland and Senegal faces Ecuador for the definition of vacancies.

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