The spectators stayed a little longer, but the World Cup hosts' chances of round of 16 are practically gone: Despite their first World Cup goal, Qatar is threatened with an historically early end on the second day of the group match.
After the unsuccessful opening game, the Asian champions, who woke up late, also lost to Senegal 1:3 (0:1).
The goal by Mohammed Muntari (78th) was not enough.
If the Netherlands get at least a draw against Ecuador on Friday evening (5:00 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the soccer World Cup, on ARD and MagentaTV), Qatar has already failed mathematically before the end of the preliminary round.
Boulaye Dia (41'), Famara Diedhiou (48') and Cheikh Dieng (84') shot the Africans to the first three points after the 2-0 loss at the start against the Dutch.
The African champions, who missed the injured Bayern star Sadio Mane, still have progress in their own hands.
Hosts France were last eliminated after two games at the 1938 World Cup, but back then the tournament started straight away with the round of 16 in knockout format.
After all, the end of South Africa 2010 was only sealed after the third group game.
After the sensational exodus of spectators during the opening game, the Al-Thumana Stadium was by no means filled to the last seat at kick-off - most of the 41,797 spectators stayed at least until the 1:3.
Qatar coach Felix Sanchez made a notable change in his starting line-up.
Goalkeeper Saad Al-Sheeb, who was overwhelmed against Ecuador (0:2), was replaced by Meshaal Barsham.
His brother is a sports legend in the World Cup host country: Mutaz Essa Barshim won Olympic gold in the high jump in Tokyo in 2021, and he is also a three-time world champion.
In the 14th minute, Barsham sailed past a corner, and he proved to be a risk factor in numerous other situations as well – just like the entire Qatari defense acted nervously and erratically.
So Boualem Khoukhi provided the dominant but by no means compelling Senegalese with the perfect template for the lead.
The defender couldn't clear a harmless cross and literally stopped the ball for Dia, who completed from twelve meters.
Senegal, for which Ismail Jakobs, who was U21 European champion with Germany last year, was in the starting lineup, had previously been lucky that the team of referees around Antonio Mateu Lahoz from Spain did not punish an obvious foul on Qatar's Akram Afif in the penalty area (34th minute). .).
After the change of sides, the Senegalese calmed down and Diedhiou headed in from a Jakobs corner.
But suddenly the World Cup host began to believe in himself.
Chelsea FC star keeper Edouard Mendy proved a strong backup for Senegal but was powerless when Ghana-born Muntari scored.