Hosts Qatar dropped just two games into the World Cup after a 3-1 defeat by Senegal at the Al Toumama Stadium.
Qatar are bottom of Group A with a game to play and became the first team to be dumped out of the competition after the Netherlands avoided defeat against Ecuador later on Friday.
Boulaye Dia (41) and Famara Diedhiou (48) struck either side of half-time to put Senegal in control as they look to respond to their opening-night defeat by the Netherlands.
Mohamed Muntari pulled one back (78) with a historic first World Cup finals goal for Qatar, but the hosts’ unlikely comeback lasted just six minutes when Ahmadou Dieng restored Senegal’s two-goal lead (84).
Big moments in the game…
- 33 min: Qatar penalty appeals ignored after Akram Afif is brought down by Ismaila Sarr
- 40 min: Boulaye Dia puts Senegal in front after a defensive error by Boualem Houki
- 48 min: Famara Didiu’s header near the post doubles Senegal’s lead
- 62 min: Almoez Ali registers Qatar’s first shot on target at the World Cup but Edouard Mendy saves
- 67 min: Ismael Mohamed forces a wonderful save from Edouard Mendy
- 78 min: Mohamed Muntari pulls back with Qatar’s first World Cup goal
- 84 min: Ahmadou Dieng restores Senegal’s lead
Senegal leave hosts Qatar out of their own party
Image: Qatar’s Akram Afif goes down under a challenge from Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr
After a forgettable World Cup debut against Ecuador, Qatar’s improvement against Senegal was evident despite lacking attacking threat in a one-sided first half.
The hosts thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Akram Afif was brought down by Ismaila Sarr in the area, but the appeals were ignored by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz.
Image: Senegal’s Boulaye Dia celebrates scoring his team’s first goal against Qatar
Qatar were within four minutes of reaching the interval when Senegal took the lead, Dia pouncing on Boualem Khouki’s defensive error to fire in the opener at the near post.
Senegal doubled their lead within three minutes of the restart when Didiu curled in a brilliant corner kick to send Qatar to elimination.
Image: Senegal’s Famara Diedieu celebrates after scoring a goal
But the hosts moved superbly, registering their first two attempts on target of this World Cup as Edouard Mendy pulled off two fine saves to deny Almoez Ali and Ismail Mohammad in the space of five minutes.
Qatar’s pressure finally paid off 12 minutes from time when Muntari rose high and superbly headed home his nation’s first goal at the World Cup finals, but the celebrations were short-lived as Dieng pulled Senegal back from two goals down from 12 yards to leave the hosts staring at an early exit.
Image: Qatar’s Mohammed Muntari pulled one goal back
Sanchez: Qatar should not be defined as a failure
Qatar head coach Felix Sanchez said his side should not be labeled a “failure and disappointment” after losing their second group game, a result that puts the World Cup hosts on the brink of elimination from the tournament.
“I think we played a good game,” Sanchez said. “When you come here, you have to know where you come from. If it’s a failure and a disappointment, it depends on expectations.
“Our goal was to be competitive… We worked so many months to be able to give a good performance. But sometimes the match doesn’t go as you expect. It also depends on the performance of the opponents. we didn’t play at our highest level. We were competitive, but we didn’t improve.”
What does the result mean?
Qatar’s second defeat at the 2022 World Cup leaves them bottom of Group A without a point and, after the Netherlands and Ecuador drew 1-1, out of the competition.
In the final matches of Group A, Qatar face the Netherlands and Ecuador face Senegal on Tuesday at 15:00.
Qatar makes a strong case for worst World Cup hosts
Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter:
“Host nation Qatar crashed out of the World Cup after falling to yet another embarrassing defeat. Senegal barely got out of third gear. There were little crumbs of comfort; Qatar actually lifted their game in the second half, creating a reasonable flow of chances before scoring a well-worked goal.
“But they become the first host nation to exit a World Cup tournament after playing just two matches. Head coach Felix Sanchez put Qatar’s opening night loss down to “nerves”. There can be no excuses to soften the humiliation of this performance.
“The Gulf nation, the subject of much attention and criticism off the pitch, had never qualified for a World Cup tournament before winning the right to host 12 years ago, and their footballing ineptitude has done nothing to distract from that fact. The gap in quality is just too huge. They throw the party, but they’re the first to leave.”
Qatar makes history – Opta statistics
- Qatar became the first host nation to lose two matches in a single group stage at an edition of the World Cup.
- Mohamed Muntari scored Qatar’s first World Cup goal in their second game and from their 12th strike.
- Qatar became only the third host nation to concede three goals in a group stage match, following South Africa in 2010 and Russia in 2018 (both 3-0 defeats by Uruguay).
- Senegal became the first African country to beat the host nation at a World Cup; all of the African side’s previous four occasions against the hosts have seen them lose 12-2 on aggregate.
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