Van Gaal – Netherlands have put a ‘full stop’ to non-playing matters in Qatar
A place in the last 16 is on offer for the winning team when Ecuador and the Netherlands meet in Group A this afternoon. The South American side impressively defeated Qatar 2-0 in the opening match of World Cup 2022 and know that a second victory today would see them safely into the knockout rounds. The same can be said of the Netherlands who left it late in their opener against Senegal before eventually collecting all three points.
Enner Valencia was the man of the moment for Ecuador, scoring both goals in Al Khor, and delivering a commanding centre forward performance. He’s also the captain of the side and will need to match his previous display should his team have hopes of defeating the Dutch this afternoon.
Louis van Gaal’s side shared their goals with lauded attacker Cody Gakpo and midfielder Davy Klaassen late goalscorers against Senegal on Monday. The European team are favoured to progress quite far at this tournament after missing the 2018 edition and securing knockout football with a game to go will see them live up to their pre-tournament hype.
Both sides will have a good view of how Group A is shaping up as this match takes place following Qatar and Senegal’s must-win clash.
Follow all the action with our live blog below, after the conclusion of Qatar vs Senegal:
Qatar 0-2 Senegal
63 mins: Save! Edouard Mendy was fuming over Hassan long-ranged effort and he’s annoyed agains after coming to the resuce for Senegal.
Qatar flicks the ball into the box and Almoez Ali bursts in between the centre-backs, brings the ball down on his chest then guides a left-footed effort towards the near bottom corner.
The ball is sneaking in but Mendy’s low, full-length dive pushes it wide of the upright!
Michael Jones25 November 2022 14:28
Qatar 0-2 Senegal
60 mins: Oh hello! Abdelkarim Hassan receives the ball about 25-30 yards out from goal and Senegal allow him time in possession. There’s not much on for the midfielder so he rolls the ball to the right and belts a lovely strike at goal!
He catches it well and just curls it wide of the far post with Edouard Mendy leaping across to make sure it doesn’t sneak in.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 14:26
Qatar 0-2 Senegal
57 mins: Qatar’s free kick is chipped into the penalty area and a knockout down drops kindly to Hassan who boots the ball towards goal only for his effort to get blocked. Senegal the scurry the ball clear.
Qatar have more men in forward positions though and Senegal are giving them space to run into.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 14:20
Qatar 0-2 Senegal
54 mins: Hassan Al-Haydos isn’t happy with the refereeing. Ismail Jakobs takes Ismail Mohamad’s legs out from under him as the Qatar defender sweeps down the right side.
The referee awards a free kick but Al-Haydos is adamant that a card needs to come out.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 14:18
Qatar 0-2 Senegal
51 mins: That’s just what Senegal needed. A second goal to give themselves a cushion in the match and to reignite their World Cup campaign after the opening defeat to the Netherlands.
Qatar have nothing to lose now. They need to at least draw this game to remain in the tournament so may as well fling men up the pitch and take the game to Senegal.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 14:14
GOAL! Qatar 0-2 Senegal (Diedhou, 48’)⚽️
48 mins: Famara Diedhou adds a second!
This is a lovely goal from Senegal. They win a corner and swing a pacey cross into the middle. Diedhou makes a run towards the near post, gets ahead of his marker and whips a headed effort into the far bottom corner!
Senegal double their lead and look in full control of the game now.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 14:11
Second half: Qatar 0-1 Senegal
Kick off: Senegal get the ball rolling for the second half at the Al Thumama Stadium. No changes have been made during the break. What can the teams conjure over the second 45 minutes.
Remember whoever loses today is out of the World Cup.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 14:09
Iran strike late to leave Wales on the brink after Wayne Hennessey receives World Cup’s first red card
“Don’t take me home” became an anthem of Wales in 2016 but the danger is they will soon be booking their flights. The latest of late drama felt a fatal blow to their hopes of extending their stay in Qatar, goals in the 98th and 101st minutes earning Iran the victory they thoroughly deserved but which thanks to a combination of the uprights, the most marginal of offsides and some inspired goalkeeping, they seemed set to be denied.
Yet Wayne Hennessey’s day will not be remembered for his stops from Sardar Azmoun and Saeid Ezatolahi, crucial as they seemed at the time.
If Wales have had World Cup history on their minds, it was invariably 1958, not 1982 or 2010. Then Hennessey offered echoes of Toni Schumacher in the semi-final 40 years ago and Nigel de Jong in the final in South Africa to earn the sending off they somehow escaped – albeit when, ludicrously, the referee initially only booked him before being sent to the monitor – and the first red card of the 2022 tournament with the highest and latest challenge seen yet in Qatar.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 14:06
HT Qatar 0-1 Senegal
Will Senegal be able to hold on this lead against Qatar? The African champions haven’t exactly set this tournament alight yet but the hosts haven’t really threatened.
Qatar are yet to have a shot on target in one and a half games at the World Cup.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 14:02
HT Qatar 0-1 Senegal
Boulaye Dia sent Senegal ahead after a poor attempted clearance from Boualem Khouki.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 13:56