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DOHA: Qatar pushed the host nation to the brink of an early World Cup exit on Friday with a 3-1 defeat by Senegal.
Goals from Boulay Dia and Famara Didiou both in the first half gave Senegal the lead before Qatari substitute Mohamed Muntari struck back in the 78th minute to set up a dramatic final.
Senegalese substitute Bamba Dieng scored six minutes later to put the result beyond doubt and lift the African champions, who opened a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands, into Group A contention.
Defeat left bottom-ranked Qatar trailing results elsewhere if they are to avoid following South Africa in 2010 as the second World Cup host nation to be knocked out in the tournament after the first round.
Their elimination will be confirmed if Ecuador fails to beat the Netherlands later in the day and make Qatar the first World Cup host nation to be eliminated after two matches.
Qatar had a tense start to the tournament after losing 2-0 to Ecuador and again looked tentative against Senegal.
The Asian champions dropped goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb to the bench after his shaky performance in the opening match.
His replacement Meshaal Barshim didn’t inspire much confidence in the early stages, flicking home a corner kick as Senegal pushed for the opening goal.
Ismaila Sarr and Nampales Mendy had already missed chances for Senegal by then, and Idrissa Gana Gueye and Youssouf Sabali missed more as the first half ended.
Qatar spent most of the first 45 minutes on the back foot, but a rare attacking break left Akram Afif furious at not awarding a penalty after he was brought down by Sarr.
Senegal seemed to be going into the first half without being able to break Qatar’s resistance, only for the hosts to gift them a goal in the 41st minute.
Qatari defender Boualem Koukhi punched the ball, letting Zia pounce on the loose ball and shoot it past Barsham.
Senegal doubled their lead almost immediately after the break when Didio pointed a header at the near post from a corner kick.
Qatar started to show more attacking ambition after two goals down and Afif was involved in it all.
Moez Ali forced his fingers to save Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy before the Chelsea player saved the Africans again from Ismail Mohamed’s effort.
Mendy was rooted to his line when Muntari pulled one back for Qatar, heading in the power of Mohamed’s cross to pull the hosts into it.
The goal lifted the crowd and sent Qatar forward in search of another goal, but Ding snatched the recovery in its bud in the 84th minute when he curled the ball into the net for Senegal’s third.
Abdelkarim Hassan then hit a free kick close to the post as Qatar tried to respond but Senegal held on resolutely for the win.
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