Kalidou Koulibaly proved an unlikely match-winner as Senegal reached the last 16 of the World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Ecuador, who are out of the tournament.
The Chelsea defender’s superb volleyed winner came only two minutes after Moises Caicedo had pulled Ecuador level from a corner, a result which would have taken the South Americans through in their place.
The African side fully deserved to qualify from their World Cup group for the first time in 20 years, largely in part to a first-half performance where they blew away Ecuador, who came into the match knowing they only needed a point to progress.
It took until the final minute of the opening period for Senegal’s dominance to count, when Ismaila Sarr was fouled in the area before confidently beating Hernan Galindez from 12 yards.
Though Caicedo briefly gave Ecuador hope midway through the second period but it was a brief respite with Senegal still the more dangerous side even after Koulibaly’s goal, and Edouard Mendy’s goal was relatively untroubled as they jumped into second to set up a last-16 tie with the winners of Group B.
The form book had Ecuador as slight favourites to progress, having drawn with the Netherlands in a game they could easily have won, and needing only a point to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2006.
A surprisingly gung-ho gameplan proved their undoing, with Idrissa Gueye missing a fine early chance for Senegal after Sarr exploited Ecuador’s attacking full-backs and galloped in behind down the flank.
Less than 10 minutes had gone by the time Senegal could have been two goals ahead, with Boulaye Dia dragging a shot wide when clean through after Ecuador failed to clear their lines.
Finally the South Americans regained some composure but still found themselves behind before the break as Sarr stole in ahead of Felix Torres and was brought down by Piero Hincapie, who was left with his head in his hands as the Watford winger then scored emphatically from 12 yards.
Ecuador made two substitutes at the break and with a much-needed change in shape finally began to control the tempo of the game. It still took them nearly 25 minutes to break down a stubborn Senegal backline, when Caicedo stooped to turn home Torres’ flick from a corner.
Having waited so long to restore their hopes of qualification, they threw them away within moments. Koulibaly would be more familiar attacking a free-kick with his head than his feet but when Gueye’s delivery was nodded down to him, he finished with aplomb before Galindez knew anything about it.
Ecuador threw men forward with their World Cup dreams on the line but in vain, as they failed to seriously test Mendy as Senegal celebrated reaching the last 16 at their expense.
Ecuador are out of the World Cup in the group stages for the third tournament out of the four they have reached.
Senegal will play the winners of Group B in the last 16 on Sunday
