28th May, 2023
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
African champions, Senegal have crashed out of the Under-20 World Cup ongoing in Argentina after playing 1-1 draw with Colombia on Saturday.
Senegal needed to win the match to stand a chance of going through to the round of 16, but they crumbled.
The African side managed two draws and one loss to come fourth in Group C with two points.
Senegal were in front on 30 minutes. A mistake from the defence gifted a chance to a lurking Mamadou Camara, who kept his cool and rolled the ball into the net from close range.
On 41 minutes, Camara after latching on to a precise pass on the edge of the box, found some space and ripped a shot close to the bottom left corner. The goalkeeper made an astonishing save, knocking the ball onto the post.
On first half added time, a great solo run by Pape Demba took him deep inside the box, but his weak effort low towards the middle of the goal was easily caught by Luis Marquinez.
Daniel Pedrozo, on 48 minutes beat his marker in the air and aimed a header at goal from the free kick, but the close-range effort flashed just past the right post.
Four minutes later, Alexis Castillo Manyoma connected with a cross from out wide in the six-yard box, but only planted his header onto the bar.
On 66 minutes, Souleymane Faye produced a ferocious strike from the edge of the box. His dangerous effort towards the middle of the goal was blocked by Luis Marquinez, who pulled off a superb save to keep the ball out of the net.
Colombia broke Senegal’s heart five minutes into added time, scoring a crucial goal to make it 1-1
Juan Castilla found Oscar Cortes inside the box, he spotted goalkeeper Mamour Ndiaye off his line and chipped the ball into the net.