Brazil takes advantage of Senegal on the eve of the World Cup qualifiers

In a six-goal match this Tuesday (20), the Brazilian national team, led by interim Ramon Menezes, even took the lead on the scoreboard, but took the turn for Senegal and was defeated at Estádio José Alvalade, in Lisbon: score of 4 to 2.

Habib Diallo, Marquinhos (against) and Mané (twice) scored for the Senegalese team, while Lucas Paquetá and Marquinhos, this time, in favor, scored for Brazil.

This was the last game of the Brazilian team before the start of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which begin in September. Amarelinha debuts in the competition against Bolivia, at home, and then plays Peru away from home.

In information released by TV Globo, the CBF’s expectation is that the agreement for Carlo Ancelotti to take over the national team after the end of the coach’s contract with Real Madrid, in mid-2024, is sealed. Until the possible arrival of the Italian at the helm, Brazil will still have eight matches ahead.

The game

The Brazilian team started the match making high marks towards Senegal, squeezing the rival defensive field and filling spaces. Activating mainly Vinícius Jr. on the left, Amarelinha tried to speed up the attack.

Four minutes into the game, the first chance. Vinícius took off from the side, left Sabaly feeling homesick and crossed to the middle. Senegal’s defense pushed aside, but Bruno Guimarães, who replaced Casemiro in the starting lineup, secured the rebound. The steering wheel’s kick, however, went over Diaw’s goal.

The same Vinicius Jr. created the move for Brazil’s first goal. With freedom, the winger received the left and crossed perfectly for Lucas Paquetá. In the area, the midfielder headed accurately, covered Diaw and scored: 1 to 0.

At 12, Malcom found Richarlison in depth and served a beautiful pass to the striker. The ‘Pigeon’, however, tried to take too much of the goalkeeper Diaw and the ball crossed the right post of the Senegalese goal. Two minutes later, however, the regret for the missed opportunity turned to relief: Vini Jr. he got rid of two markers in the area and, when making the second dribble, he was stomped by Ciss, a penalty scored by Gustavo Correia. The video referee, however, annulled the penalty due to the Real Madrid player’s impediment at the start of the play.

Senegal began to like the match little by little, and reached the equalizing goal in the 21st minute. After a cross into the area, Joelinton tried to clear the ball and gave an assist to Habib Diallo. The Senegalese number 7 did not hesitate to take it at first, stick a bomb and score: 1 to 1.

From there, the temperature of the game dropped. Sarr scared the 32nd and forced a beautiful defense from Ederson, while Danilo risked a bomb from outside the area already in stoppage time. Score unchanged for the final leg, however.

2nd time

Early in the second half, Senegal reached the turnaround. Mané crossed towards Sarr, who headed it into the middle of the area, looking for Habib Diallo. Before the attacker reached the ball, however, Marquinhos, when trying to cut the shot, pushed for his own equity.

At nine, Senegal surprisingly opened up an even greater advantage on the scoreboard when Mané scored a great goal, hitting Ederson’s corner. The ball went into the angle, with no chance of defense for the Brazilian goalkeeper.

The hectic final stage had another goal before 15 minutes. At 12, Marquinhos redeemed himself from the own goal, took advantage of a corner kick and, pressured by the marking, managed to swing the back of the net to give a glimmer of hope to the national team.

Even with the goal, however, Brazil was unable to threaten Senegal with danger again. The highlight scene in the remainder of the second half was the widespread confusion in the 43rd minute, after a foul on Bruno Guimarães in the middle. Nothing, however, that could not be contained with the application of four yellow cards by Gustavo Correia.

Practically in the last play of the game, Rony headed the ball into the area and asked for a penalty, after it touched the arm of the Senegalese defender. Nothing scored by Gustavo Correia, who signaled Ederson’s penalty following the move, after the goalkeeper brought down Nicolas Jackson. In the collection, Mané gave final numbers to the match: 4 to 2.

DATASHEET

BRAZIL 2 X 4 SENEGAL

Local: Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal
Date: June 20, 2023, Tuesday
Time: 4pm (from Brasilia)
Referee: Gustavo Correia (Portugal)
Assistants: Rui Teixeira and Pedro Mota (both from Portugal)
VAR: Helder Malheiro (Portugal)
Yellow cards: Ayrton Lucas, Éder Militão and Danilo (Brazil); Ciss, Diatta and Nicolas Jackson (Senegal)

Goals: Lucas Paquetá, at 10 minutes of Q1 and Marquinhos, at 12 minutes of Q2 (Brazil); Habib Diallo, in the 21st minute of Q1, Marquinhos (against), in the 6th minute of Q2, and Mané, in the 9th and 51st minutes of Q2 (Senegal)

BRAZIL: Ederson; Danilo, Éder Militão, Marquinhos and Ayrton Lucas (Alex Telles); Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton (Raphael Veiga) and Lucas Paquetá (André); Malcom (Rony), Vini Jr and Richarlison (Pedro)
Technician: Ramon Menezes (interim)

SENEGAL: Diaw; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Niakhate and Jakobs; Mendy, Pape Gueye (Kouyaté) and Ciss (Diatta); Mané, Sarr and Habib Diallo (Nicolas Jackson)
Technician: Aliou Cissé

*With information from Gazeta Esportiva

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