Broken Qatar

HOSTS TUMBLE OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT AS KEEPER MENDY ATONES FOR DUTCH DISASTER

MARK JONES in Doha 1 3

EDOUARD MENDY went from villain to hero as two superb saves kept Senegal in the game as they secured victory against eliminated Qatar.

The Chelsea keeper was widely criticised for two errors in the 2-0 opening-match defeat by Holland, with Senegal boss Aliou Cisse and Blues team-mate Kalidou Koulibaly forced to defend him against fierce questioning from African media.

But he produced two fine stops, just as Qatar threatened to get a foothold in the game, after goals either side of half-time from Boulaye Dia and Famara Diedhiou had put the African champions in control.

Qatar – heading out of the World Cup earlier than any host nation before them – did then score their first tournament goal through sub Mohammed Muntari, only for Senegal sub Bamba Dieng to seal the win late on.

“I’m really happy with the boys,” said coach Cisse. “And I thank Mendy, who kept us in the game.”

Cisse believes that loss is now forgotten, after a win which sets up a crucial final game of the group against Ecuador. “It is a collective victory,” he said. “We decided to bring in another striker, Dieng, to score another goal and I’m very happy with that.

“But a game against Holland is different from one against Qatar. With all due respect to Qatar.”

The hosts struggled to lay a glove on Senegal during a onesided first half, although they did feel they should have had a penalty when the lively Akram Afif was sent sprawling in the box.

That near-miss only seemed to inspire Senegal though and, after Boualem Khoukhi stumbled over a clearance, Dia pounced with a clinical finish to silence home fans.

Some of those supporters then failed to return for the second half as Dia’s strike partner Diedhiou (celebrating, below) planted home a superb header from an Ismail Jakobs cross.

Qatar found a second wind and Senegal needed Mendy to be at his very best as he denied both Almoez Ali and Ismaeel Mohammad, the latter from point-blank range.

Muntari raised spirits among those remaining fans with a fine header for a piece of World Cup history, but Dieng finished clinically to put the game beyond doubt.

Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo said of their final game against the Dutch: “You don’t know when you’ll play a World Cup again. Frenkie de Jong is their best player, he’s a magician. But we’ll play to win.”