Senegal's Goal Blitz: 5-0 Thrashing Seals World Cup Hope

Senegal secured a vital 5-0 victory against Iraq in their final Group I match, significantly improving their goal differential for a potential spot in the round of 32. The Lions of Teranga found their scoring rhythm in the second half, after an early red card reduced Iraq to ten players in the 13th minute.

Substitute Pape Gueye was the star of the second half, scoring two sensational goals from long range in the 59th and 71st minutes. Earlier, Lamine Camara set up Ismaila Sarr for his third goal of the tournament in the 56th minute. Habib Diarra had opened the scoring for Senegal in the fourth minute, and Iliman Ndiaye added a late fifth goal in the 82nd minute.

Iraq's World Cup journey concluded with three consecutive losses. Their hopes for a first World Cup point were dashed when defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, a decision confirmed by VAR review. Senegal, now with 3 points, holds a plus-2 goal differential, placing them in contention for one of the eight third-place qualifying spots.