At the end of a game full of twists and turns, Senegal won 5-3 against Portugal in their second match of the group stage of the Beach Soccer World Cup in Russia. As in ...

Beach soccer World Cup: Senegal beats Portugal and qualifies for the quarterfinals

Senegalese Papa Ndour celebrates his team's victory in the African Cup of Nations beach soccer in Saly, Senegal on May 29, 2021 (illustrative image).

AFP - SEYLLOU

Text by: Pierre Fesnien Follow

4 min

At the end of a game full of twists and turns, Senegal won 5-3 against Portugal in their second match of the group stage of the Beach Soccer World Cup in Russia.

As in the two previous editions, the Senegalese will play the quarter-finals.

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The meeting had started rather badly for Senegal, but the Lions of Teranga were able to find the necessary resources to reverse a match whose scenario has long been undecided.

After Portugal opened the scoring by Von in the 9th minute of play, the Senegalese could have bowed their heads but it finally took them less than 30 seconds to equalize and get back into the game thanks to a goal from Roul Mendy.

Barely a minute later, the Lions got back in the right direction on a penalty converted by Mandione Diagne after a foul by André Lourenço.

During the second third, Oumar Sylla's men continued to push without finding the fault, until a fault by Mamadou Sylla turned everything upside down and offered a penalty to the Portuguese allowing them to return to 2- 2.

The Senegalese play to scare each other

The Senegalese definitely wanted to play to scare themselves because in the 24th minute, it was Portugal who took the advantage thanks to a goal from a direct free kick from André Lourenço.

But once again, it will only take 30 seconds for the Lions to return to 3-3 thanks to a second goal from Raoul Mendy who looked like a providential man in this match.

►Also read: Beach soccer World Cup: Senegal aims for a historic semi-final

But it is ultimately the third third that will allow this meeting to settle down.

Despite the Portuguese's efforts to regain the advantage, it was the Senegalese who were able to keep a cool head to knock out their opponent with two goals late in the game.

The first by Mandione Diagne in the 33rd minute, which thus offered himself a double, and the second by Ninou Diatta in the 35th minute just after the expulsion of André Lourenço.

Insured shifts

With this second victory in as many matches, the Teranga Lions are already guaranteed to participate in the quarter-finals as they had already done in the two previous editions.

By beating Oman in their last group match on Tuesday, they could even secure first place in Group D and face the second in Group C in the quarterfinals.

🇸🇳 Senegal seal their spot ✅

🔥 A stunning victory over the reigning champions sees the Lions of Teranga roar into the #BeachSoccerWC quarter-finals 🦁 pic.twitter.com/gqeVu0A5FN

- FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) August 22, 2021

After this perfect start to the competition, the Senegalese have in any case shown that they have to be counted on for the rest of this world. The six-fold winner of the African Cup hope to advance for the first time in their history to the semi-finals of the competition. For that, they will very likely have to get rid of either Switzerland or Brazil. The most successful selection in beach soccer, currently second in Group C, is under pressure after losing on penalties to Switzerland. Whatever the opponent, the Lions have already shown, however, that they do not lack resources.

➡️ Switzerland & Senegal qualify with a game to spare

💪 Brazil & Uruguay bounce back

🤕 Reigning champions' hopes dented

🌍 Another thrilling day of action at the #BeachSoccerWC 😍 pic.twitter.com/ejVgV8XDv6

Beach soccer World Cup: Senegal beats Portugal and qualifies for the quarterfinals

Beach soccer World Cup: Senegal beats Portugal and qualifies for the quarterfinals

The Senegalese play to scare each other

Insured shifts

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