ZAt least the thesis that the fans were allegedly bought en masse could hardly be held up when the game between the World Cup organizers Qatar and Senegal was kicked off on Friday afternoon. After the opening game, the host nation’s supporters were criticized for leaving in their thousands at half-time and leaving the arena half-empty by the time the final whistle blew.
In the second game of Qatar against Senegal, probably the most important game in the history of this small football nation, many spectators didn’t even come. There were gaps all over the stands, people apparently no longer believed in their team and actually saved themselves another defeat.
After the 1:3 against the West Africans, the “al-Anabbi” (“the wine-red ones”) from the Persian Gulf only had a theoretical chance of reaching the round of 16 at the final whistle. But because the Netherlands and Ecuador drew 1-1, Qatar’s elimination was clear. However, the spectators who came and stayed saw at least in the second half a small attack by their team, which showed that they are not completely out of place at this World Cup. However, as in many games of this tournament, not much happened at first.
Grateful for small actions
The Senegalese were superior to Spanish coach Felix Sanchez’s defensive side without threatening in any way, also thanks to Qatar’s more stable position than in the opening game. In the first half-hour, only a 20-metre shot from Idrissa Gueye, which went just wide of the post, conveyed any hint of danger.
The Qataris in the stands were grateful for small actions: for an attack that ended with a cross that looked dangerous for a moment. Or for a pretty hopeless long-range attempt that went well over the goal. After all, there were now such actions, the great nervousness of the first appearance was no longer so clearly noticeable.
The first highlight of the game was a scene that could have given the host team a new direction in the World Cup. In the course of a hard-fought duel, Ismaila Sarr brought down Qatari star Akram Afif in the penalty area, and a penalty wouldn’t have been a bad decision. However, Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz allowed play to continue; the suspicion that the hosts could somehow be given preferential treatment has been dispelled.
And so came what Sanchez had to fear the whole game: Again, the lack of footballing quality led to a goal. Qatar central defender Boualem Khoukhi failed to clear the ball, meaning that Boulaye Dia had little trouble scoring Senegal’s first goal of the tournament from ten meters out (41st minute). And after Famara Diedhiou headed in a corner from Cologne-born Ismail Jakobs to make it 2-0 shortly after half-time, the spectators’ hopes of victory faded (48′).
Urgent phase of the Qataris
As in the opening game, even more seats remained empty after the break. However, the people on the way home missed their team’s best moments: Abdelkarim Hassan was unlucky with two shots (56′, 61′) before Almoez Ali forced Senegal’s goalkeeper Mendy to make an excellent defense (63′).
Also because Senegal already felt a little too safe, the Qatari side now had a longer period of pressure, which Mohammad Muntari refined with a celebrated header to make it 1-2 (79′). It got really loud and exciting for a few minutes until Bamba Dieng finally countered to make it 1:3 (84th).
The sporting part of the Qatar World Cup project had at least a few really exciting minutes, but overall it was a disappointment. It’s a small consolation that the team’s performance was a little better than against Ecuador. The Senegalese, on the other hand, are well into the tournament with this 3-1 win and gave the African continent its first win at this World Cup.
