Chelsea star Kalidou Koulibaly fired Senegal into the World Cup last-16 with the winning goal in the second half of their group stage clash against Ecuador on Tuesday. Ismalia Sarr gave Senegal the lead just before half time but Moises Caicedo struck the equaliser only for Koulibaly to smash home the match-winner moments later.
Koulibaly, who captains Senegal, reacted sharply to a loose ball from a free kick to fire into the back of the net with a goal that sees Senegal finish as group A runners-up, where they could potentially face England in the next round.
Senegal fought back against the odds after their defeat to the Netherlands in their Group A opener where two Edouard Mendy mistakes saw Louis Van Gaal's side strike twice in the final 10 minutes, but after beating Qatar on Friday, they duly confirmed their World Cup qualification with a 2-1 win over Ecuador.
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Koulibaly's first few months in a Chelsea shirt have been difficult, with Thomas Tuchel, who brought him to the club, being sacked and replaced by Graham Potter. The former Napoli defender made an immediate impression on the Chelsea supporters though when he fired in a delightful volley against Tottenham in August.
His crucial goal for Senegal was very similar to that strike in the Premier League draw with Spurs, showing he can have an impact at the other end for the Blues along with his defensive qualities which Chelsea fans will hope to see more of in the coming months.
After scoring 20 minutes from time, Koulibaly then had to show those defensive and leadership attributes to help Senegal seal a spot in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Ecuador threw everything at Koulibaly, Mendy and co but could not find an equaliser and when the referee blew the full time whistle, Koulibaly fell to his knees gesturing his arms back and forth powerfully in celebration.
The 31-year-old then began celebrating with his team-mates offering them all a firm handshake and hug with a highly determined look on his face, suggesting he is ready to guide Senegal further than just the last-16 stage of the World Cup.
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