The biggest sporting event in the world continues with the Group A Ecuador v Senegal clash where either side could top the group or be knocked out. Their choice.
With so many games and so little time, our Group A Ecuador v Senegal Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game and with just a hint of cynicism. If you wanted professional and/or good you’d be on the BBC website, not here. Essentially, we watch and follow the game so you don’t have to.
With answers to the key questions prior to the match and our Minutes that Mattered summary and stats post game, it is a real Who Cares guide to the 2022 World Cup for the person on the go.
KICKOFF – TUESDAY 29TH NOV – 18:00 (QATAR) 15:00 (UK) 02:00 (AEDT)
Group A Ecuador v Senegal Match Review
Senegal have progressed to the knockout stage by defeating Ecuador is a game where the qualification status changed a few times. But in fairness, only one team seemed to come out to play to win, and that team was rewarded with a win.
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute you find on professional websites except one that has only the minutes that matter. All wheat, no chaff.
And if the below isn’t enough, for those in Australia you can catch up via the SBS World Cup on Demand.
3’ Min Early chance for Senega’s Idrissa Gueye and it was close indeed as he scoots around the Ecuador defenders then fires a rocket towards goal. A minute later the Ecuador keeper is nearly caught embarrassingly out of position but recovers well. Senegal aren’t playing for a draw here, that seems evident based on the first few minutes.
8’ Min Senegal’s Dia has a crack at goals, and perhaps should have done better to take the lead for Senegal.
10’ Min Ecuador’s turn for their first decent attack of the match. Enner Valencia had a free kick and chance to go ahead in the golden boot race but didn’t amount to much.
19’ Min Klinsmann Trophy nomination for Ecuador’s Ángelo Preciado who rolls around on the ground like a turtle trying to get back on its feet. Contact was minimal. On second glance the Ecuador players looks genuinely hurt, although we’re sure he’ll be fine again areal soon
24’ Min Senegal continues to play for the win, forcing corners here and taking shots there. Ecuador, we guess can play for the draw given they have 4 points and Senegal 3 points. But they shouldn’t.
38’ Min As above, Senegal continue to press for a goal but fall just short with set pieces, corners and other random shots. Meanwhile, the Senegal fans keep on signing and dancing in hope of the goal they need to move ahead of Ecuador and head for the knockout stage,
41’ Min PENALTY TO SENEGAL
Ismaila Sarr charges into the box and is met by two Ecuador defenders, and one was close enough to knock him to the ground. It may be a little soft, and Sarr contributed to the contact, but it is a penalty.
43’ Min GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL FOR SENEGAL
Ismaila Sarr almost tippy-toes towards the ball and he sends it to the right, and it just makes it inside the post for that crucial goal for Senegal.
SENEGAL 1 ECUDAOR 0
45’ +2 Min Iliman Ndiaye blows a chance to make the score 2-0 for Senegal.
45’ +3 Min A little bit of push and shove between the Senegal and Ecuador players. It was caused by a Klinsmann Trophy dive from Enner Valencia which was right up there for pathetic football dives.
HALF TIME – SENEGAL 1 ECUDAOR 0
46’ Min An early Klinsmann nomination for Michael Estrada who barrel rolled a few times after some minimal contact
58’ Min The dancing of the Senegalese hasn’t stopped, but you can see Ecuador starting to dance around the football a bit more as they now need to score to keep themselves in the hunt for the knockout stage.
65’ Min Idrissa Gueye gets the first yellow card of the game and a second one for the tournament which means he’ll miss the first knockout game if Senegal make it.
67’ Min GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR ECUADOR
Ecuador take a corner and the swinging delivery into the box see a flick on header from Félix Torres onto Moisés Caicedo waiting at the far post for the tap in. The goal means Ecuador are now in the box seat for moving into the knockout stage.
SENEGAL 1 ECUADOR 1
69’ Min GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR SENEGAL
From a free kick for Senegal the ball loops into the penalty area and the ball takes a deflection off an Ecuador defender and lands in the path of Kalidou Koulibaly who nailed it to give Senegal back the lead and knockout stage advantage again.
SENEGAL 2 ECUADOR 1
77’ Min Ismaila Sarr drives into the Ecuador penalty area and falls over, this time no penalty is given, but Senegal keep pressing via a few corners, but the score remains the same.
87’ Min the TV camera continue to pan to miserable looking Ecuador fans. But there’s still time, but unlikely based on Ecuador’s open play for most of the match.
90’ Min And here comes the dreaded Added Time score – six additional minutes coming.
90’ Min +2 Ecuador force a corner kick. Senegal keeper Mendy bats away the cross he could have left but took the safe option. Another corner coming for no result. Ecuador keep pressing with long balls into the box but Senegal hold on and steal the second place from Group A.
Senegal qualify for the knockout stage.
Final Score
SENEGAL 2
Ismaila Sarr 43′ Kalidou Koulibaly 69′
ECUADOR 1
Moisés Caicedo 67′
HT Senegal 1-0
Player of the Match
Ismaila Sarr
Points of Interest
- A word on crowd atmosphere, you can’t beat the joyful dancing of the Senegal fans. You can beat the constant drumming throughout the entire game.
Group A Ecuador v Senegal Match Stats
Group A Ecuador v Senegal Starting Teams
SENEGAL (4-2-3-1)
16 Mendy
21 Sabaly
3 Koulibaly
22 Diallo
14 Jakobs
11 Ciss
26 Gueye
13 Ndiaye
5 Gueye
18 Sarr
9 Dia
ECUADOR (4-3-3)
1 Galíndez
17 Preciado
2 Torres
3 Hincapié
7 Estupiñán
21 Franco
8 Gruezo
23 Caicedo
19 Plata
11 Estrada
13 E Valencia
Group A Ecuador v Senegal Match Preview
Why should you care?
Because this is a group where the winner, other qualifier, and unlucky loser are yet to be determined, and how exciting that both games are played at once. Of course we all knwo last place has been decided.
These two sides have both gone under the radar with Netherlands big names and Qatar’s choke taking the limelight, but we have been impressed with both. We boldly claimed in our pre tournament predictions that Senegal would beat England in the Round of 16, and based on the previous games for both nations, it isn’t out of the question.
Who should you care about?
Can Enner Valencia keep scoring. If the Ecuadorian can score here and drag his nation into the knockout phase and keep scoring, he’ll be one of the most unlikely golden boot winners at any World Cup.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
Ecuador’s 1-0 win over Croatia at the 2002 World Cup is the only time either of these sides have won their 3rd and final Group Stage games over their respective World Cup campaigns.
Who will win?
Ecuador 1 Senegal 2
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
HOW THE GROUP STANDS
| Ecuador | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Holland | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Senegal | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Qatar | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | -4 |
Group A Ecuador v Senegal Match Review
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute except one that has only the minutes that matter.
Stay tuned after the match.
Group A Ecuador v Senegal Match Stats
Coming after the match.
