Gareth Southgate’s England are through to the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup following an impressive 3-0 win over Senegal to seal their passage to the lady eight, where defending Champions, France lies in wait.
The clash famously known as the battle between three Lions and the Lions of Teranga had one favourite heading into it and it can be no other than a side that has reached at least the semi final of their last two major international tournaments.
Albeit Senegal are the champions in Africa, they still come short when up against an England side, who have always come close to glory yet has eluded them up to this point.
The match started and as expected, the European enjoyed much of the possession and from the onset, it was clear time is what is between them and the goals that’ll be scored on the night and when the breakthrough came, it was from one of the unexpected players.
Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson justified his selection by firing a one-time shot into the back of the net from a Jude Bellingham pass to open the scoring for the Three Lions, who have been the better side up to that point.
England continued to hold their ground even as Senegal push men forward in search for an equaliser but England punished them on the break as Harry Kane gets his first of the tournament.
The move started from the England’s half and Bellingham was again at the heart of it. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder moved the ball past a couple of Senegal players before playing to Phil Foden, who takes a touch to send it into the path of Kane.
The captain then took a touch to set himself up before firing a sizzling shot past Edouard Mendy in goal deep into the added time of the first half.
The goal is Harry Kane’s 52nd for three Lions, meaning he is now one away from equaling Wayne Rooney as the all-time international leading Goalscorer for England.
Bukayo Saka scored his third goal of the tournament to make it 3-0, three minutes before the hour mark as Foden’s cross found him in a promising position and the Arsenal man expertly beat Mendy from inside the box.
The 21 year old becomes the first ever Arsenal player to score a knockout goal in a major tournament for England.
It finished 3-0 to the Three Lions, who now faces France on Saturday for a place in the last four while Senegal failed to equal their best run of a quarter final finish and exit the tournament but will not be much disappointed because they come up against a better side.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
