Senegal Thrash 10-Man Iraq 5-0 to Keep Knockout Hopes Alive in Historic Win

Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 in Toronto on Friday night in a result that keeps their round of 32 hopes alive, though they must wait for other results to confirm their place in the last 32. 

Goals from Habib Diarra, Ismaila Sarr, a Pape Gueye brace and a stunning individual effort from Iliman Ndiaye secured a historic victory, with Senegal becoming the first African side to score five goals in a single World Cup match. Iraq are eliminated after finishing bottom of Group I without a point.

Senegal needed to win by several goals to have any chance of advancing as one of the eight best third-placed teams, having lost their opening two games against France and Norway. 

They got off to the perfect start when Diarra deflected Abdoulaye Seck's corner header past goalkeeper Ahmed Basil after just four minutes.

Their task became significantly easier in the 13th minute when referee Anthony Taylor sent off Iraq defender Rebin Sulaka for pulling back Sadio Mane as he ran through on goal. A VAR review upgraded the initial yellow card to a red, with Basil making a fine save to deny Mane from the resulting free kick, though the goalkeeper was injured in the process and replaced by Jalal Hassan at half time.

Iraq held firm for the remainder of the first half but Senegal's pressure told after the break. Zidane Iqbal gave the ball away just outside the area in the 56th minute and Lamine Camara pulled it back for Sarr to prod home his third goal of the tournament. Three minutes later substitute Pape Gueye, in his first involvement after coming on, curled a left-footed strike into the top corner to make it 3-0.

Gueye added his second with another thunderous effort in the 71st minute before Ndiaye capped the rout in style, surging to the edge of the box and unleashing a precise drive that Hassan had no chance of saving.

Mane, who was guilty of wastefulness on several occasions, hit the post late on and substitute Nicolas Jackson was also denied by Hassan as Senegal pushed for more.

Senegal finish third in Group I on three points and sit fifth among the third-placed teams. They now face an anxious wait to see if that is enough to send them through to the knockout stage, where they would hope to replicate their famous run to the quarter-finals in 2002.