Senegal rout Iraq to stay in World Cup knockout race

Senegal kept their World Cup knockout hopes alive Friday with a 5-0 win over Iraq in Group I, Reuters reported. The result gave Senegal a needed lift on goal difference as the round-of-32 race tightened.

Pape Gueye scored twice from distance after coming on in the second half, according to Reuters, as Senegal turned a narrow halftime lead into a comfortable victory at Toronto Stadium. Iraq played most of the match with 10 men after defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off in the 13th minute.

Reuters reported that Senegal finished third in Group I with three points and a plus-two goal difference. The Lions of Teranga held the fifth-best record among third-placed teams at the time, though four teams below them still had final group games to play.

Habib Diarra put Senegal ahead in the fourth minute while both sides still had 11 players, Reuters reported. Iraq’s task became much harder nine minutes later when referee Anthony Taylor dismissed Sulaka for denying an obvious goal-scoring chance.

According to Reuters, Taylor first showed Sulaka a yellow card after Sadio Mane went past him and was pulled back by an outstretched arm. Taylor then reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor and changed the decision to a red card.

Senegal did not add to their lead before halftime, Reuters reported, but the second half brought four more goals. Ismaila Sarr scored in the 56th minute, his third goal of the tournament, after Lamine Camara won the ball in Iraq’s penalty area and crossed low for Sarr to finish into an open net.

Gueye entered the match immediately after Sarr’s goal and quickly changed the game, according to Reuters. In the 59th minute, he received a pass from Sarr near the right side of the box, moved inside and curled a left-footed shot beyond goalkeeper Ahmed Basil into the top corner.

Reuters reported that Gueye struck again in the 71st minute. He met a bouncing pass from Iliman Ndiaye and hit a half-volley that left Basil with little chance.

Ndiaye completed the scoring in the 82nd minute with another long-range effort, according to Reuters. The goal capped a second-half surge that may prove valuable if Senegal’s tournament depends on goal difference among third-placed sides.

For Iraq, Reuters reported, the defeat ended a group stage in which they lost all three matches. Iraq were eliminated from what was their second World Cup appearance and their first since 1986.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.