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Senegal beat Ecuador to reach World Cup last 16

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Ismaila Sarr and Kalidou Koulibaly scored either side of halftime as Senegal advanced to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 20 years with a 2-1 win over Ecuador here on Tuesday.

Sarr converted a penalty on the stroke of halftime but Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo put his side on level terms with a close-range finish in the 67th minute.

Koulibaly wrested back the lead for Senegal by thumping home a first-time effort 20 minutes from time.

The result at Khalifa International Stadium means Senegal finish second in Group A with six points from three matches. Ecuador miss out on a place in the last 16, having finished two points further back in third place.

Senegal showed their attacking intent in the third minute when Idrissa Gueye latched onto Ismail Jakobs’ cross from the left flank. But the Everton midfielder could only manage to pull his first-time effort wide of the post.

Youssouf Sabaly then released Boulaye Dia with a clever through ball only for the Villarreal forward to flash his shot harmlessly out of play.

Ecuador looked frazzled as Senegal continued to bombard the South American team’s defense.

Sarr provided another tense moment for Gustavo Alfaro’s men when he ran onto Pape Gueye’s headed flick and made a probing run into the box before bending an effort just beyond the far post.

Pathe Ciss let another chance slip by heading over the bar after a curling Jakobs free-kick from the right wing.

Ecuador struggled to advance into their final third as Caicedo, Carlos Gruezo and Alan Franco were suffocated by Senegal’s high-pressing back four.

Senegal were finally rewarded for their dominance when Sarr was awarded a penalty, having been bowled over by Piero Hincapie in a race for the ball inside the box.

The Watford winger coolly slotted the resultant spot-kick into the bottom right corner, leaving goalkeeper Hernan Galindez planted to the middle of his line.

Ecuador began the second half with a greater sense of urgency, moving the ball more fluently and forcing Senegal to defend deeper.

Pervis Estupinan created a rare chance for his team as he sent a sumptuous cross into the path of Michael Estrada, whose header missed the target.

Ecuador equalized when Felix Torres leapt highest to flick on Gonzalo Plata’s silken delivery from a corner. Caicedo was free at the far post and poked a shot past a flat-footed Edouard Mendy.

The intensity was suddenly at fever pitch and Senegal restored their lead three minutes later when Gueye’s cross rebounded off Torres’ shoulder. Koulibaly was first to react and hammered an unstoppable volley past Galindez.

Raptors reign supreme over Cavaliers in NBA

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Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam returned from a 10-game absence with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the team’s 100-88 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday evening.

Siakam had been out for over three weeks after sustaining a right adductor strain in Dallas on November 4. Prior to his injury, the 28-year-old Cameroon native was leading the team in points (24.8), rebounds (9.3) and assists (7.7).

Toronto head coach Nick Nurse was thrilled to see his All-Star back in the lineup.

“Looked like he hadn’t missed a beat,” said Nurse in the post-game press conference. “He was confident in getting to his spots, I like the way he played on both ends. ”

Siakam played 31 minutes and was an instrumental part of the defence that held Cleveland to a season-low 88 points on 38 percent shooting from the field. Entering the game, the Raptors were ranked 27th in the league by allowing opponents to shoot at a 48 percent clip.

Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby led the game with 20 points after netting a season-best four three-pointers.

With the win, Toronto improves to 11-9 on the season and 8-2 at home. Enditem.

November 29 – Best betting tips with Betnumbers

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29/11
	17:00	Ecuador – Senegal	X2	UNDER 1.53
	17:00	Netherlands – Qatar	1	UNDER 3.5 1.62
	21:00	Iran – USA	X2	UNDER 1.62
	21:00	Wales – England	2	2-3GOAL 1.95
	22:00	Vis Pesaro – Gubbio	X2	NO GOAL 1.70
	22:45	CD Santa Clara – UD Oliveirense	1	UNDER 1.75

England coach Southgate praises Wales ahead of Tuesday’s encounter

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England coach Gareth Southgate insisted on Monday that there would be no change to his side’s attitude when they face Wales on Tuesday in Group B.

A draw will be enough for England to assure their place in the last 16 of the World Cup as group winners (unless the United States beat Iran by more than four goals), but Southgate said his side would not go for a draw against a rival they have beaten in their last six meetings.

“We want to win football matches,” he said, although he indicated that didn’t rule out changes to his starting 11.

“We’ve got to balance freshness with stability. That’s always the decision you’re making when you pick the team. We’ve got a chance to win the group with a positive result,” added the England coach.

England played fast, open football to beat Iran 6-2 in their opener, but had to dig deep for a 0-0 draw against a fast and energetic U.S. side.

“We’ve played well with the ball in the first game and scored a lot of goals. The second game was tougher. We now want to put both elements together,” commented Southgate.

The coach said defender Ben White would miss out with an illness, and told the press that although there are rumors he could rest captain Harry Kane, “Kane always wants to play.”

He also discussed the Wales side, who will be looking to restore pride by beating a local rival after they lost to Iran in their second Group B match.

“They’re a proud team with some very good players. We would have always expected them to play well. We’re preparing for them in the same way we’ve prepared for the previous opponents.”

“They have some world class players who can produce moments of brilliance and have done for a long time with their clubs and their country. They have a good spirit and organization,” he added, singling out Gareth Bale for praise.

“He’s capable of those individual moments of brilliance. He’s having a fantastic career and had some fantastic experiences,” commented Southgate of the 33-year-old winger.

Santos impressed with Portugal’s performance at World Cup

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Portugal coach Fernando Santos celebrated his side’s passage into the last 16 of the World Cup following their 2-0 win in the Lusail Stadium on Monday night.

Two second-half goals from Bruno Fernandes, with the second coming from the penalty spot, gave Portugal the win against a Uruguay side that disappointed and only created chances when they had fallen behind.

“We are satisfied today, because we can move into the new stage,” Santos said, commenting that he didn’t see the result as a revenge for Uruguay’s win over his side in the 2018 World Cup. “Those were different circumstances.”

“Two wins from two games is what I wanted for the team,” he said, brushing aside controversy over whether Fernandes or Cristiano Ronaldo actually scored his side’s opening goal as the midfielder’s cross evaded everyone on its way into the Uruguay net.

“I think it was a great match, my team played well and the rest doesn’t matter,” laughed Santos, who demanded more from his side.

“We need to improve in our combinations and to prevent our opponents in attacking our area. There are things to improve, but we need to focus on positive aspects,” commented the Portugal coach.

Santos said he “would not make many changes” for Portugal’s final group game against South Korea.

“We are going to look after our injured players, but we will have a side to win the next game. I trust my players, and anyone who plays will do well,” he concluded.

Ecuador going for victory over Senegal – Gustavo Alfaro

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Ecuador manager Gustavo Alfaro Monday said his men will be playing to win their final 2022 World Cup Group A match against Senegal despite needing only a draw to advance to the knockout stage in Qatar.

“We cannot change the way we play,” Alfaro told a news conference ahead of Tuesday’s clash at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.

“Ecuador have a way of doing things and we are going out there to win. We respect our opponents. They are a good team with a good manager who has a very clear idea of how he wants to play.”

Ecuador began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Qatar before securing a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in their second match. Senegal lost 2-0 to the Netherlands in their opener and then beat the tournament hosts 3-1.

Alfaro praised the work of Senegal manager Aliou Cisse, who has had to reshuffle his team in the absence of Sadio Mane. The Bayern Munich striker was ruled out of the tournament just days before Senegal’s first match because of a leg injury that requires surgery.

“[Senegal] have reinvented themselves after losing Mane,” the Argentine coach said. “This is going to be our most difficult match of the World Cup because of who we’re playing against and because of the circumstances.”

He added: “We are not going out to draw. If we do that we’ll miss out on top position [in the group]. We are going to try to win, making the most of our very good offensive block and solid defense.”

Ghana’s president praises Black Stars following South Korea win

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Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday congratulated the country’s team, the Black Stars, for defeating South Korea at the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Akufo-Addo said in a tweet from his official account that the victory was well-deserved.

“Kudos to the Black Stars. Hard fought, but thoroughly well-deserved victory against South Korea. Proud of the entire team and the unalloyed support given to them by all Ghanaians,” he said.

The Ghanaian president urged the team to focus on the final Group H game against Uruguay on Friday, saying “We can do it.”

Mohammed Kudus scored twice to help Ghana grab a thrilling 3-2 win over South Korea on Monday.

Ghana’s fans celebrate victory over South Korea at World Cup

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Football fans in the Ghanaian capital Accra took to the streets Monday afternoon to celebrate Ghana’s victory over South Korea at the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.

Some fans who watched the game from a giant television screen mounted in front of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation took to wild jubilation immediately after referee Anthony Taylor blew the final whistle.

The streets in the capital and major towns across the country were filled with people wearing the Black Stars replica shirts, singing and dancing while vehicles also draped in the Ghana colors tooted their horns with cheers from onlookers.

Pubs, restaurants, and other public places were all filled with people in a wild celebratory mood, with some fans urging the team to correct their mistakes before playing their next match.

According to the fans, the 3-2 win over South Korea was impressive, even though it was a hard-fought victory.

Football fan Adam Abdul Rashid told Xinhua the win is a morale booster going into the final group game.

“It was a must-win game for us; it was a morale booster. We needed to redeem our position in African football as far as the World Cup is concerned, and we came all out for the victory, and that was the most important thing,” he said.

Rashid, however, cautioned the Black Stars to keep their focus throughout the entire duration of the game to avoid conceding goals in subsequent matches.

“A lot of things went wrong, one of which was complacency. After scoring two goals, our guys relaxed, and the South Koreans took advantage. But we came back stronger tactically, it was a painful victory,” he added.

Another fan Shaban Ameyaw said he was impressed with the performance of the Black Stars.

“This is the time for them to make a difference, to prove their position in the game, and to win over South Korea. I’m really impressed because I didn’t see this actually coming because our match with the Portuguese was really a tough one, but making a difference in this South Korea match is really a great start for us, I really love it,” he said.

The Black Stars, who made their fourth appearance at the FIFA World Cup, lost 3-2 to Portugal last Thursday.

Ghana will play against Uruguay in their final group match on Friday.

Portugal, Brazil reach World Cup last 16

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Teams have started booking their spaces into the knockout stages of the World Cup.

Brazil and Portugal secured their places in the round of 16 on a thrilling ninth day of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Monday.

Casemiro struck late as Brazil outlasted Switzerland with a 1-0 win in their Group G match at Stadium 974 in Doha.

The Manchester United midfielder put his side ahead in the 83rd minute when his first-time shot deflected in off Manuel Akanji following Rodrygo’s flicked pass.

Brazil have now won their past nine matches and will progress to the last 16 of football’s showpiece tournament irrespective of the result of their final group game against Cameroon on Friday. Switzerland must defeat Serbia to guarantee their place in the next round in Qatar.

Brazil went into Monday’s duel without talismanic forward Neymar, who suffered an ankle injury in the 2-0 victory over Serbia last Thursday. The 30-year-old was originally expected to miss the rest of the group stage but could return for the clash against Cameroon.

Earlier, Cameroon kept alive their hopes of reaching last 16 when they recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 3-3 with Serbia earlier on Monday.

Cameroon went ahead through Jean-Charles Castelletto before Strahinja Pavlovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic netted in quick succession to give Serbia the lead before halftime.

Aleksandar Mitrovic extended the European side’s advantage but the Indomitable Lions rallied as Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting struck within three minutes.

Mitrovic almost restored Cameroon’s lead with a stoppage-time effort that flew just wide after Dusan Tadic’s pass.

At Education City stadium, Mohammed Kudus netted a brace as Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 in their pulsating Group H encounter.

Mohammed Salisu opened the scoring for the African side with a 24th-minute strike and Kudus doubled the advantage just beyond the half-hour.

Two world-class headers in three minutes from Cho Gue-sung put the Asian outfit on level terms but Kudus rifled home a third goal for Ghana as Otto Addo’s men maintained their hopes of progressing to the last 16.

In the late game, Bruno Fernandes scored twice as Portugal took revenge for their World Cup exit to Uruguay in 2018 with a 2-0 win in the Lusail Stadium.

The midfielder opened the scoring in the 54th minute with a cross that evaded everyone to end in the Uruguay net, while his second was an injury time penalty given for a handball.

The result books Portugal’s place in the last 16, while Uruguay will have to beat Ghana and hope that South Korea don’t defeat a Portugal side that can now rest players.

Cameroon, Serbia revive World Cup hopes with 3-3 draw

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Serbia and Cameroon both experienced the pressure of coming from behind during a high-intensity Group G match on Monday and kept hopes alive of entering last 16 at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

On a sunny afternoon, Jean-Charles Castelletto tapped home from close range to open the scoring in the 29th minute when the unmarked Cameroon defender seized the chance to gift his first goal for his country after a corner from the left.

Serbia turned the game around thanks to two quick goals in first-half stoppage time.

Strahinja Pavlovic rose above the defenders to deliver a powerful header into the corner after the free-kick was lofted into the box, leveling the score at 1-1 and cheering supporters at the Al Janoub Stadium.

Serbian playmaker Sergej Milinkovic-Savic struck a low shot two minutes later to boost his side with a comfortable 2-1 lead at half time.

Eight minutes after the restart, Aleksandar Mitrovic, the central forward in a 3-4-2-1 formation, who also hit post for Serbia in the first half, delivered a tap-in to make it 3-1 after fluent short passes from teammates.

Cameroon, seeking the first victory at the World Cup finals since 2002, responded with courage and efficient counterattack.

Vincent Aboubakar delivered a lob to ease the pressure in the 63rd minute and ran in space to lay the ball across from the right for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to tap home three minutes later.

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