A strong end to the first half helped England run out to a 3-0 victory on Sunday in their 2022 FIFA World Cup matchup against African champions Senegal, setting up a quarterfinal duel with rivals France. Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane scored to put the Three Lions ahead by two goals at halftime before Bukayo Saka scored his third goal in Qatar to wrap up a performance characterized by ruthless finishing. Senegal are eliminated from the competition despite a positive start that saw the Lions of Teranga provide stiff resistance to the favorites.
The early exchanges were pleasing to Senegalese supporters as their team settled into the match and created a couple of the game’s first opportunities. In the 22nd minute Ismaïla Sarr lifted his finish from close range off target after Krépin Diatta’s cross to Boulaye Dia caused plenty of concern for England’s center back pairing of John Stones and Harry Maguire. Ten minutes later Sarr set up Dia for a hard shot from close range that brought an excellent reaction save out of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
England always had the quality to wake up and produce a goal on short notice and a quick combination created the opening goal against the run of play. A quick team movement on the left wing led to Kane finding Jude Bellingham’s run down the left wing of the Senegalese penalty area where the Borussia Dortmund midfielder crossed low to Henderson for a first time finish past Senegal keeper Édouard Mendy. Senegal’s disastrous end to the first half was completed by Kane, who was wide open to fire past Mendy from a Phil Foden assist after Bellingham’s pass set up a 2-on-1 break.
The Senegalese team failed to recover their confidence and belief during halftime and England controlled the second half without any issues. Moments after a swerving strike from Kane was just kept out by Mendy it was Saka who put the match away in the 57th minute by meeting a Foden cross to cleverly lift his finish over an advancing Mendy. The final half hour was rather uneventful, closing out a professional performance from England who will face France on Saturday in a highly anticipated quarterfinal match.
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