World Cup: Hosts Qatar eliminated after 3-1 loss to Senegal
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DOHA – Qatar coach Felix Sanchez said his side should not be branded a “failure and disappointment” after they lost their second group game against Senegal on Friday, a result that later that day eliminated the hosts from the tournament.
After losing their opener to Ecuador, Qatar did finally manage to score a goal in the tournament but their 3-1 loss to the Africans leaves them bottom of Group A with no points. Their fate was sealed when group rivals the Netherlands and Senegal drew 1-1 in the subsequent match.
Qatar are the reigning Asian champions but are playing in their first World Cup.
“I do think we played a good game. When you come here, you need to know where you’re coming from (as a country). If this is a failure and disappointment, that depends on expectations,” Sanchez told reporters.
“Our goal was to be competitive... We’ve been working for so many months to be able to give a good performance.
“But sometimes the match does not play out as you expect. It also depends on the opponents’ performance. We didn’t play at our top level. We were competitive but didn’t improve.”
Qatar are in danger of becoming the first World Cup hosts to fail to win a single game.
“We are aware of how tough this competition is. We wanted to go far but we know we had limitations as a country,” Sanchez added.
“It’s a small country, not a very large population. The local league is not a very competitive one.
“It’s our first time at the World Cup. If we can take part again, that would be great. It’s always useful to get more experience.”
The opening-night nerves were nowhere to be seen as Qatar quickly got to grips with Senegal and they should have had a penalty when Ismaila Sarr bundled over Akram Afif, but Spanish referee Antonio Mateu waved away their pleas and the video assistant referee (VAR) did not intervene.
With Qatar defending well, it was going to take either a moment of magic or a catastrophic mistake for Senegal to break the deadlock, and unfortunately for Qatar defender Boualem Khoukhi, it turned out to be the latter.
His attempt to clear a routine low pass into the box by Krepin Diatta went disastrously wrong, as he went to ground without making proper contact with the ball.
Khoukhi’s fluffed effort allowed Boulaye Dia to pounce, and the 26-year-old striker needed no second invitation to rattle the ball in to give Senegal the lead.
Famara Diedhiou doubled Senegal’s advantage with a brilliant glancing header from an Ismail Jakobs corner in the 48th minute.
Qatar fans start to leave during the Group A football match against Senegal.
PHOTO: AFP
The home fans were rewarded with some superb attacking play as the hosts registered their first efforts on target in the tournament, with Ismael Mohamad forcing a superb reflex save from Edouard Mendy.
Mohammed Muntari reduced the deficit in the 78th. Six minutes after Muntari’s goal, Bamba Dieng swept home a pass from fellow substitute Iliman Ndiaye for his side’s third.
Senegal defender Youssouf Sabaly said: “We managed to win and it was important after a bad start... we have one more final to play so we’ll give everything.” REUTERS, AFP
