Senegal made World Cup history by becoming the first African nation to score five goals in a single game at the tournament, thrashing 10-man Iraq 5-0 in Toronto to secure a provisional place in the round of 32.
Goals from Habib Diarra, Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye and a brace from substitute Pape Gueye gave Senegal their biggest ever winning margin at the World Cup and moved them into fifth place in the third-placed teams rankings, all but guaranteeing their progression. Iraq, who finish with zero points and a goal difference of minus 11, are eliminated.
The game turned in Senegal’s favour early when Iraq right-back Rebin Sulaka, already on a yellow card, was dismissed after a VAR review for pulling back Sadio Mane as he bore down on goal. Referee Anthony Taylor had initially shown a yellow, but upgraded it to red after consulting the pitchside monitor.
By that point Senegal were already ahead. An unmarked Abdoulaye Seck headed the ball down from a corner and it deflected off Diarra and into the net to give the African champions an early lead.
Mane, whose shirt had been pulled by Sulaka before the red card, was influential throughout despite picking up an injury before half-time. He forced a good save from Ahmed Fadhil and struck the post late on as he chased a fifth goal, but was forced off at the interval after appearing to land awkwardly on his shoulder.
With Iraq reduced to 10 men and a substitute goalkeeper between the posts, Senegal turned the screw. Sarr, played in by Diarra, saw his first effort parried before being presented with a simpler chance moments later after Zidane Iqbal gave the ball away deep in his own territory. The Crystal Palace winger finished into the roof of the net to make it two.
Gueye came off the bench and within 89 seconds had curled a beautiful strike into the top left corner. He then added a fourth with a rasping shot from Ndiaye’s cushioned header, and Ndiaye completed the scoring by finding the top corner from 20 yards as Iraq backed off and invited punishment.
Senegal’s place in the round of 32 is now all but confirmed, with England their most likely opponents in the next round.
