Technically imbalanced and timid, hosts Qatar set for early exit from World Cup

If the forward line tried to stay at the throats of the Senegal backline, their midfield preferred to hang back. The midfield should ideally have been pushed forward by the defensive line to play in the opposition half and support their team’s attack. The gap between the midfield and the attack meant that every time the Qataris had possession in the final quarter of the pitch, they were met with a sea of returning Senegalese players and no support from their own.

This would have to be a match where Qatar either scored from a set piece or were bestowed with a piece of good fortune. They would receive neither.

Senegal almost scored in the 16th minute when a corner was whipped into the Qatari box and goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham flew through the air, trying to land a punch on the ball. He completely missed, almost conceded a goal and was saved by the lack of a good connection from the striker Famara Diedhiou.

Lift off for Senegal 🙌@adidasfootball | #FIFAWorldCup

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Qatar screamed for a penalty in the 33rd minute after Ismaila Sarr barged into Akrif Afif. But the referee saw that the player had discreetly put himself in the path of the defender in the final moment to get the foul, and wisely disallowed it.

But the home team’s run of holding onto dear life came to an end in the 39th minute. It was a mistake from central defender Boualem Khoukhi, a mistake that was coming considering the growing number of them being committed by the Qataris across the pitch. A curled pass on the ground, one that should easily have been cleared by Khoukhi in the box, was bungled and the mishit landed straight at the doorstep of Boulaye Dia, who made no error in slotting the ball past the Qatari goalkeeper.

It would be the last action of note as Qatar went down the tunnel, knowing they had 45 more minutes to save their first ever World Cup campaign.

Diedhiou made up for his missed header in the first half to immediately put Senegal up by another goal in the opening minutes of the second half. The goal came from an Ismail Jakobs corner and was met by the No 10, who moved swiftly to the near post and glanced a header into the opposite end of the goal. Qatar needed a response from their team but it was not conceding another goal.

Two goals down and starting at an exit from the World Cup in their own backyard, Qatar started to wake up. Urgency started to creep up into their ranks, their defenders started to hold a higher line.

The Qatar comeback seemed on when they fashioned the perfect opportunity to score. A ball from deep in the left by Assim Madibo in the 67th minute came into the Senegalese box with Ismail Mohammed open and not guarded. Mohammed mishit the ball but even that attempt should have gone into goal but Eduoard Mendy, the Senegalese custodian dropped low to his left and palmed the ball away for a save. Qatar were starting to inch closer to a goal but time was not an ally.

And ten minutes later Qatar scored their first ever World Cup goal. Mohammed, who had missed an opportunity mere minutes ago, created a lifeline for his team, dropping a cross from the right flank into the box. Substitute Mohammed Muntari attacked the cross, jumped over Koulibaly to score for the hosts.

Qatar’s resolve to make a comeback lasted all of six minutes. Senegal’s third goal of the night came when Youssouf Sabaly passed the ball onto Iliman Ndiaye, who was positioned on the right of the Qatari box. From there, the midfielder cut the pass into the box to Bamba Dieng, who lost Khoukhi to slap the ball into the Qatari net and essentially signal the end of Qatar’s World Cup hopes.