Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 to keep World Cup hopes alive

Senegal kept their FIFA World Cup hopes alive with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Iraq in their final Group I fixture, a result that leaves the African side firmly in contention to qualify as one of the tournament's best third-placed teams.

The Lions of Teranga delivered a ruthless second-half display after Iraq were reduced to 10 men early in the contest, while Graham Arnold's side bowed out of the competition without a point on their long-awaited return to football's biggest stage.

For Iraq, it marked the end of their first World Cup appearance in four decades, with three defeats from three matches ending their campaign.

Early red card leaves Iraq facing uphill battle

Iraq's task became significantly more difficult after just 13 minutes when defender Rebin Sulaka was shown a straight red card. Referee Anthony Taylor upgraded the challenge following a VAR review, ruling that Sulaka had denied Sadio Mane a clear goalscoring opportunity.

The dismissal forced Iraq onto the back foot for the remainder of the contest, although Senegal initially struggled to convert their numerical advantage into clear-cut chances.

Their best opportunity before the interval came through Ismail Jakobs, whose powerful strike from distance flashed narrowly wide.

Diarra breaks the deadlock

Senegal finally found the breakthrough shortly after the restart. A well-delivered corner created confusion inside the penalty area before Habib Diarra applied the decisive touch to Abdoulaye Seck's flick, giving the West Africans a deserved lead.

Iraq's hopes were further dented at halftime after goalkeeper Ahmed Basil was forced off through injury, with veteran Jalal Hassan replacing him between the posts.

Sarr punishes costly error

The contest effectively ended in the 56th minute. Former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal lost possession deep inside his own half, gifting Senegal a golden opportunity that Ismaila Sarr calmly converted for his third goal of the tournament.

The Crystal Palace forward celebrated passionately as Senegal sensed a chance to boost both their goal difference and knockout hopes.

Pape Gueye steals the show

Substitute Pape Gueye transformed the closing stages with two spectacular goals. The Villarreal midfielder needed less than 90 seconds after coming off the bench to curl a stunning long-range strike into the top corner.

He followed it up minutes later with an unstoppable half-volley that left Hassan rooted to the spot, producing one of the standout individual displays of the group stage.

Iliman Ndiaye completed the scoring late on with another brilliant effort from distance as Senegal finished the match in complete control.

What the result means

The comprehensive victory lifts Senegal's goal difference significantly as they await confirmation of whether their three-point tally will be enough to earn one of the eight best third-placed qualification spots for the Round of 32.

Their final fate now depends on results elsewhere across the remaining groups.

For Iraq, the defeat ends a memorable return to the World Cup on a disappointing note. Despite failing to register a point, the Lions of Mesopotamia gained valuable experience that could serve as a foundation for future international tournaments.

SportsLigue