Senegal salvage hopes of a place in World Cup last 32 with thrashing of Iraq

Substitute Pape Gueye scored a pair of sensational second-half goals from long range, and Senegal got a much-needed boost to their goal difference with a 5-0 victory over 10-man Iraq in their Group I finale on Friday. Ismaïla Sarr added his third ⁠goal of the tournament, ⁠the first ​of four after half-time for the Lions of Teranga, who sealed a third-place group finish and are vying for one ⁠of the eight third-place spots in the last 32. They currently hold the fifth-best record of third-place sides based on their plus-2 goal difference, but ⁠four of the teams beneath them have yet to play their final group matches. Habib Diarra ​opened the scoring in the fourth minute ‌while it was still ‌11 on 11, and Iliman Ndiaye wrapped it up with his own long-range effort in ‌the 82nd minute. The result mean that Iraq were eliminated from their second World Cup and first since 1986. They would have been underdogs at even strength, but the prospect of their first World Cup points grew more remote when referee Anthony Taylor dismissed defender Rebin Sulaka for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity in the 13th minute. Taylor initially brandished only a yellow card after ‌Sadio Mané dribbled past Sulaka, who hauled him back with an outstretched arm. But Taylor was summoned to consult a replay monitor, and after ​viewing the play again, upgraded the decision. Iraq’s Rebin Sulaka walks off the pitch after being sent off for a foul on Sadio Mané. …