Ecuador vs Senegal final score, result: Koulibaly sends African champions into World Cup 2022 Round of 16

Bryn Palmer

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Ecuador vs Senegal final score, result: Koulibaly sends African champions into World Cup 2022 Round of 16 image

Kalidou Koulibaly volleyed home a precious winner to send Senegal through to the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, at the expense of Ecuador.

Needing a win to qualify, with the Netherlands beating Qatar as expected to top Group A, the African champions went in front just before half-time when Piero Hincapie bundled over Ismaila Sarr, who picked himself up to calmly convert the penalty.

It was a deserved lead for the Lions of Teranga, who had missed a series of early chances, with Idrissa Gueye and Boulaye Dia both dragging shots wide. 

But Ecuador equalized in the 67th minute when Moises Caicedo tapped in from a corner.

La Tri were only level for two minutes though, as Gueye's free-kick dropped to Koulibaly in the box and the Chelsea defender lashed home a shot with a superb right-foot volley.

Ecuador, who won their first match against Qatar before drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands, tried desperately to force a leveller, which would have seen them progress to the knockout stages for only the second time in their history.

But Senegal held on to book a possible meeting with England, or whichever team finishes top of Group B after today's later matches.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights for Ecuador vs. Senegal at the 2022 World Cup. Follow below for complete results from the Group A match in Qatar.

MORE: Ecuador vs Senegal prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for World Cup 2022 Group A match

Ecuador vs. Senegal score

  1H 2H Final
Ecuador  0 1 1
Senegal 1 1 2

Goals:
SEN - Ismaila Sarr (44 mins, pen)

ECU - Moises Caicedo (67 mins)

SEN - Kalidou Koulibaly (70 mins)

Confirmed lineups:

Ecuador starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Galindez (GK) — 17. Preciado, 2. F. Torres, 3. Hincapie, 7. Estupinan —  21. Franco, 8. Gruezo, 23. Caicedo — 19. Plata, 11. Estrada, 13. Valencia.

Senegal starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 16. E. Mendy (GK) — 21. Sabaly, 3. Koulibaly, 14. Jakobs, 22. Diallo — 26. P Gueye, 5. I. Gueye — 11. P Ciss, 18. I. Sarr, 13. Ndiaye — 9. Dia

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Ecuador vs. Senegal as it happened, highlights from 2022 World Cup

FULLTIME: Ecuador 1-2 Senegal

That's it! Senegal have done it! The African champions are into the knockout stages for the first time in 20 years! 

Watch if you're in Canada:

90th min+6: Is there to be one last chance for Ecuador?

90th min+4: Dangerous free-kick from Ecuador swung toward the far post. Piero Hincapie gets a toe to it and complains he was held back, but Clement Turpin is not interested. 

90th min+3: Corner to Ecuador. Gonzalo Plata swings it in left footed and Edouard Mendy claws it away for another corner. It comes to nothing.

90th min: There will be SIX minutes of added time. Ecuador's Pervis Estupinan gets down the left and puts a decent ball into the box, but no teammate can get on the end of it.

89th min: Time ticking away now for Ecuador, who are struggling to generate any forward momentum.

82nd min: Chance for Senegal. Lovely bit of skill from Youssouf Sabaly to slip the ball into Boulaye Dia, who turns well and lets fly with his right foot, but it drifts wide of the right post. Close! 

76th min: Ecuador now need a goal or they're going out of the World Cup. Gonzalo Plata struggles to get the ball under control in the box before eventually getting a shot away, but that's not troubling Edouard Mendy.

70th min: AND SENEGAL ARE BACK IN FRONT! Idrissa Gueye puts in a great free-kick from the right flank, the ball drops to Kalidou Koulibaly and the Chelsea defender volleys it home right-footed across the keeper into the far corner. Great finish! 

Watch if you're in the USA: 

Watch it if you're in Canada:

68th min: GOAL FOR ECUADOR! A corner from the right is flicked on and Moises Caicedo can't miss from a yard out at the far post. We're all square! 

Watch it if you're in the UK:

66th min: Ooft! Hefty challenge from Idrissa Gueye on Gonzalo Plata, and the Everton man collects the first yellow card of the game. Gueye will now miss Senegal's Round of 16 match, IF they get through.

63rd min: Ecuador are readying Djorkaeff Reasco for action. He's coming on to replace Michael Estrada.  Guess which French legend Reasco was named after? Yep...

60th min: Idrissa Gueye has caught the eye in the Senegal midfield today and the Everton man whips in a good free-kick into the area, but Ecuador get it clear,

57th min: Half a chance for Ecuador. Brighton's Pervis Estupinan gets down the left and curls in a decent cross. that Michael Estrada gets his head to. But he can't get enough power on it and glances it wide.  

54th min: Enner Valencia, the tournament's joint-top marksman and scorer of Ecuador's last six World Cup goals, has barely had a sniff today. Another ball forward eludes La Tri's main man. 

52nd min: Senegal are getting plenty of men behind the ball, leaving just Boulaye Dia up front on his own. They seem happy to let Ecuador have the ball and play on the counter-attack.

48th min: More news from the other game in this group. Netherlands have gone 2-0 up against Qatar, through Frenkie de Jong. So Senegal know victory is absolutely essential for them to qualify. A draw would be enough for Ecuador.

46th min: We're back underway at the Khalifa International Stadium. Can Ecuador find a way back into this game? 

HALFTIME: Ecuador 0-1 Senegal

So Senegal deservedly in front and in pole position to qualify from Group A at the moment. Ecuador were happy to keep it tight but will have to change their approach in the second half if they want to avoid an early exit from this World Cup.

45th+4 min: Enner Valencia is trying to milk a penalty for Ecuador after a tussle with Youssouf Sabaly, but the Senegal defender's calm reaction told you there was nothing amiss there.

45th+2min: Almost a second for Senegal as Iliman Ndiaye lines up a shot but three Ecuador defenders get in the way to smother it.

45th+1min: That goal lifts Senegal above Ecuador into second place in Group A, as things stand. We're into six minutes of time added on.

Watch if you're in the USA: 

44th min: GOAL TO SENEGAL! After a lengthy delay, Ismaila Sarr steps up and, calm as you like, side-foots the spot-kick right-footed low into the right corner. 

Watch if you're in Canada:

42nd min: PENALTY TO SENEGAL! Piero Hincapie bundles into Ismaila Sarr and referee Clement Turpin points straight to the spot.

37th min: Another half-chance for Senegal, but Pathe Ciss, stretching to meet a high ball, heads over the crossbar. 

35th min: Ismail Jakobs with a lovely floated pass over the top of the Ecuador backline into the path of Ismaila Sarr, but the Watford man is swiftly surrounded by three defenders and Hernan Galindez gathers safely.

31st min: Although Senegal have had all the chances so far, Ecuador are seeing plenty of the ball. Remember if it stays this way, they're through to the round of 16... and a possible meeting with England, or whoever finishes top of Group B after today's later games.

26th min: Breaking news from the other match in this group: Netherlands have just taken the lead against Qatar with a goal from Cody Gakpo. It just underlines that in all probability, Senegal need to win this match today to progress. 

24th min: Pape Gueye is putting in a huge shift so far for Senegal. The Marseille man wins the ball on the left touchline and feeds Ismaila Sarr. Sarr cuts in onto his right foot and tries a curler into the far corner, but it's just wide. That's four decent efforts the Lions of Teranga have had already.

20th min: Ayrton Preciado lands heavily after an aerial challenge and is in some discomfort. There's a pause while the Ecuador man receives some treatment, but it looks like he's OK to continue. 

18th min: Idrissa Gueye works hard to win Senegal a corner. It's a good delivery into the box but Ecuador keeper Hernan Galindez gets a strong punch on it. 

13th min: End to end stuff in these opening exchanges. First Iliman Ndiaye, called into the Senegal side today, sends a ball across the face of the goal that doesn't find the taker. Moments later, the Sheffield United forward cuts inside onto his left foot but curls his effort wide of the far post. 

10th min: First chance for Enner Valencia to add to his goal tally for Ecuador. The free-kick is a long way out and his effort hits the wall. It rebounds to the striker, but his follow-up shot is also blocked. 

8th min: Another big chance for Senegal! Pape Gueye nudges a ball through for Boulaye Dia, but the striker scuffs his shot wide of the far post. Poor.

Watch if you're in the UK:

6th min: Kalidou Koulibaly venturing forward deep into Ecuador territory for Senegal, but the Chelsea defender can't find a final pass.

3rd min: Big chance for Senegal! Pape Gueye gets away down the left and scuffs a cross that travels right across the area to Idrissa Gueye. The Everton man has a clear sight of goal but slices his shot wide of the right post. Should have hit the target! 

Watch if you're in the USA:

2nd min: Carlos Gruezo, making his first start of the tournament for Ecuador, wins the ball in midfield and launches the first real attack of the game. 

1st min: And Ecuador get us underway...

4 mins from kickoff: It's Ecuador's anthem first. And now we have Senegal. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has his game face on. It'll be kickoff next.

8 mins from kickoff: A raucous atmosphere greets the two sides' arrival on the pitch. They're lining up for the anthems...

15 mins from kickoff: A few stats for you as we await the entrance of the two teams at the Khalifa International Stadium.

This is Ecuador's first World Cup match against an African nation. If they avoid defeat, it would be the first time the South American country have gone through an entire group stage unbeaten.

Opponents Senegal are winless in both of their previous World Cup games against South American sides, with both of these coming in the final group game of a tournament (3-3 against Uruguay in 2002, 0-1 against Colombia in 2018).

Is that a bad omen for the West African nation?

25 mins from kickoff: Senegal have not progressed beyond the group stage since 2002, when they reached the quarterfinals on their first appearance at the World Cup.

The Lions of Teranga lost 2-0 to Netherlands in their opener in Qatar before rebounding with a 3-1 win over the hosts in their second group game.

Lying third in Group A, they will be eliminated if they lose, and will almost certainly need a victory to progress, unless hosts Qatar beat the Netherlands in a match taking place at the same time.

35 mins from kickoff: A reminder of what's at stake for both teams today as we build towards kickoff. Let's start with La Tri. 

Ecuador, who beat Qatar 2-0 in their opening game before a 1-1 draw with Netherlands, will qualify for the round of 16 if they avoid defeat against Senegal.

That would match their best-ever World Cup performance in 2006, when they reached the last 16 in Germany before being knocked out by England.

45 mins from kickoff: And here is the Ecuador lineup.

Two changes for La Tri from the side which started their 1-1 draw with the Netherlands. Alan Franco and Carlos Gruezo come into the midfield, replacing Jackson Porozo and Jhegson Mendez.

1hr from kickoff: The Senegal team is in! 

Three changes for the Lions of Teranga.  Pape Gueye,  Pathe Ciss and Iliman Ndiaye come into the side, with  Nampalys Mendy, Krepin Diatta and Famara Diedhiou dropping out of the starting 11.

1h 15 mins from kickoff:  Senegal's popular coach Aliou Cisse made it clear in his pre-match press conference yesterday the scenario facing his side today. "A win allows us to continue the adventure. A loss would see us heading home - and we don't want to consider that prospect." 

We should have some teams for you shortly.

1hr 30 mins from kickoff: It's a warm day in Al Rayyan but there are some clouds around - good conditions for football and plenty at stake in this one.

Ecuador are hoping to reach the knockout stage for the first time since 2006, while Senegal have not progressed beyond the groups since 2002.

1hr 40 mins from kickoff: The Senegal fans are starting to make themselves heard inside Khalifa International Stadium. If their team play with as much rhythm, we're all in for a treat.

1hr 45 mins from kickoff: Brighton and Hove Albion left-back Pervis Estupinan has been one of Ecuador's top performers at the World Cup, winning duels and providing service for his attacking teammates. Senegal might struggle to get much joy down his side of the pitch today.

2hrs from kickoff: The party is warming up nicely around Khalifa International Stadium. It's possible for both Ecuador and Senegal to clinch qualification today, in the unlikely event that Qatar beat the Netherlands. But this World Cup is by no means immune to shock results!

2hrs 15 mins from kickoff: If the scenes in Doha last night were anything to go by, Ecuador's supporters will create plenty of their own noise as their team attempt to clinch a place in the knockout stage.

2hrs 30 mins from kickoff: The Senegal fans are getting in the mood outside Khalifa International Stadium. We could be in for a cracking atmosphere at today's game.

2hrs 45 mins from kickoff: Ecuador's Enner Valencia has been one of the players of the tournament so far, scoring all three of his country's goals at the World Cup.

Relive his strike in the 1-1 draw with the Netherlands here, if you're in the UK:

3hrs from kickoff: Khalifa International Stadium is hosting this match, and the venue has proved it can deliver an atmosphere during some high-octane encounters earlier in the tournament.

3hrs 15 mins from kickoff: Senegal cannot afford to be wasteful when they get a sight of goal today; Ecuador have faced just one shot on target in their two games so far - the second-least of any team in the tournament after two matches. 

3hrs 30 mins from kickoff: This game will have the attention of Everton and Marseille fans, with the likes of Idrissa Gana Gueye, Bamba Dieng and Pape Gueye all in contention to feature for Senegal.

4 hrs from kickoff: Hello, and welcome to today's live coverage of Ecuador vs. Senegal with a place in the Round of 16 on the line. Can the tournament's top scorer so far Enner Valencia add to his three-goals and fire his country into the knockout stages? We'll soon be finding out. Let's get going!

Ecuador vs. Senegal lineups, team news

Ecuador had a major injury doubt over captain and talisman Valencia with the veteran striker forced off in both of their games in Qatar. But the tournament's joint top scorer has been passed fit to start.

Coach Gustavo Alfaro makes two changes, with Alan Franco and Carlos Gruezo coming into the side alongside Moises Caicedo in midfield, replacing Jackson Porozo and the suspended Jhegson Sebastian Mendez.

Ecuador confirmed starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Galindez (GK) — 17. Preciado, 2. F. Torres, 3. Hincapie, 7. Estupinan —  21. Franco, 8. Gruezo, 23. Caicedo — 19. Plata, 11. Estrada, 13. Valencia.

Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse is still without Cheikhou Kouyate through injury, and Abdou Diallo came through unscathed against Qatar.

Pape Gueye, Pathe Ciss and Iliman Ndiaye come into the side, with Nampalys Mendy, Krepin Diatta and Famara Diedhiou dropping out.

Senegal confirmed starting lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): 16. E. Mendy (GK) — 21. Sabaly, 3. Koulibaly, 14. Jakobs, 22. Diallo — 26. P Gueye, 5. I. Gueye — 11. P Ciss, 18. I. Sarr, 13. Ndiaye — 9. Dia

Ecuador vs. Senegal live stream, TV channel

This vital Group A match will be played at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. Here's how you can watch all the action from some of the major global territories.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
USA Tue, Nov. 29 10:00 ET FS1,
Telemundo		 fuboTV,
Fox Sports site/app,
Telemundo Deportes site/app,
Peacock
Canada Tue, Nov. 29 10:00 ET TSN 2, RDS (French) TSN site/app,
RDS app
UK Tue, Nov. 29 15:00 GMT ITV 4, STV ITVX, STV Player
Australia Wed, Nov. 30 02:00 AEDT SBS VICELAND SBS On Demand
India Tue, Nov. 29 20:30 IST — Voot, JioTV
Hong Kong Tue, Nov. 29 23:00 HKT Now TV (Ch. 619, 617) Now TV
Malaysia Tue, Nov. 29 23:00 MYT Astro Arena 2 Astro GO
Singapore Tue, Nov. 29 23:00 SGT StarHub FIFA World Cup 2 Singtel TV GO, CAST,
StarHub TV+, MeWatch
New Zealand Wed, Nov. 30 04:00 NZDT Sky Sport 1 NZ Sky Go, Sky Sport NOW

Watch the match on fuboTV in USA

Bryn Palmer

Bryn Palmer Photo

Bryn is an experienced digital journalist after many years working on the BBC Sport website in a variety of editorial roles, specialising in live coverage of major events across a range of sports including football, rugby and Olympic Games.