Senegal 3-0 Kenya
Senegal are through to the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 after a thumping victory over Kenya.
Three goals in an electrifying 15 second-half minutes, including a brace from Sadio Mane, simply blew the Harambee Stars away. And the Liverpool striker could have had the first hat-trick of the tournament having missed a first-half penalty.
Before the match, Kenya coach Sebastien Migne questioned Senegal’s mental toughness, and that might have been a mistake. The favourites dominated from start to finish and three goals could easily have been six.
We’re watching the Lions of Teranga closely here at SBOBET and, after this scintillating second-half display, we aren’t about to stop any time soon!
Highlights of the game
Mane was on the end of a couple of robust challenges in the opening exchanges as Kenya imposed themselves on the game and there were two very strong penalty shouts early on, one at either end.
The first came for Kenya. Michael Olunga became the first Kenyan player to score two goals in an Africa Cup of Nations game in their 3-2 win over Tanzania, and he was a handful right from the off.
And when Salio Cisse headed weakly back to his keeper Alfred Gomis, Olunga intercepted and Gomis clattered into him as he lobbed his effort just wide.
It looked like a penalty to me, but not to the referee.
Then there was an even bigger claim at the other end as Senegal attacked. As the ball was lifted into the penalty area, Spurs midfielder Victor Wanyama stuck his arm out and made contact with the ball. But again, the referee wasn’t impressed.
Patrick Matasi made a brilliant and brave stop to deny Idrissa Gueye on 27 minutes when Ismaila Sarr put the Everton midfielder clean through. That was a save to watch in the Africa Cup of Nations 2019 highlights package, and the Kenya keeper was called into action again a minute later.
The Senegal full-back Cisse overlapped, and as he raced into the penalty area, he was blocked off by Musa Mohammed and this time the referee pointed to the spot.
After several minutes of delay, Mane hit a poor penalty. He was far too casual in his run up and had no power in a shot which Matasi saved low in the corner. Mane was suspended for Senegal’s opener against Tanzania and wasn’t at his best in the 1-0 defeat to Algeria, so he had something to prove; even more so now.
Senegal was on the front foot at the start of the second half, and Henri Saivet forced a save with a powerful strike from outside the box. M’Baye Niang then found space and fired a rocket straight at Matasi.
Kenya finally had a shot on target on the hour when Dennis Odhiambo hit a beauty from long-range which Gomis tipped over the bar at full stretch.
And then the opener came. It was the first mistake of the game from Matasi. He
flapped at a lofted ball from the left, and when it bounced kindly for Ismaila Sarr he fired a scorcher into the top left corner.
And that opened the floodgates. The second came on 70 minutes in a rapid break when Lamine Gassama launched a 70-yard ball up the pitch. Mane raced onto it to fire low and hard under the dive of Matasi.
It was 3-0 on 78 minutes when a really poor challenge from Philemon Otieno on Sarr earned the Kenyan a red card and Senegal another penalty.
This time Mane was steely in his concentration and fired the ball in the bottom-right corner. Matasi guessed right, but this time but there was too much power in the shot.
|
|||||||||||||
