Senegal dent Uruguay’s 84 years Olympics record

Moussa Konate celebrating a goal
| credits: telegraph.co.uk

Moussa Konate scored two first-half goals as 10-man Senegal handed Uruguay their first-ever Olympic defeat in a 2-0 win on Sunday. Uruguay, which could have clinched the group with a victory, was unbeaten in winning back-to-back Olympic titles in 1924 and 1928 – the last time it played in the competition.

Konate tapped in the rebound from Cheikhou Kouyate’s saved header for an easy 10th-minute opener in front of 76,071 spectators at Wembley Stadium.

Uruguay’s defence was left flat-footed again on Konate’s second in the 37th when five defenders watched him head home a corner seven minutes after defender Abdoulaye Ba was red carded for tripping up Luis Suarez.

Konate has scored three goals at London 2012 for Olympics debutante Senegal, which lead Group A with four points from two games. Two-time Olympic champion Uruguay have three points going into their last game against hosts Britain. Senegal play their last game against the United Arab Emirates.

Uruguay looked lethargic on both goals against pacy and physical opponents, especially after the 7½-hour bus ride the players took from Manchester to London on Friday to take part in the opening ceremony of the games. Konate was perfectly placed inside the box to tap home after Uruguay goalkeeper Martin Campana’s low, reflex save to Kouyate’s clear header.

Konate nearly doubled the lead six minutes later but Campana tipped his rising volley from inside the area around the post.

Uruguay created danger in the 27th as Gaston Ramirez’s free kick bounced off the near post. The Bologna striker would later elicit a tremendous save from Ousmane Mane after Senegal was reduced to 10 men from Ba’s silly trip of Suarez, who was jeered by the near capacity crowd with every touch.

Senegal struck their second goal against the run of play as Sadio Mane — who troubled Uruguay’s defenders with his pace — set up a corner that Konate easily stepped up to score from as five blue shirts stood stationary around him.

Suarez set up Ramirez’s try from inside the area while fellow striker Edinson Cavani was largely muted apart from having a 45th-minute effort cleared after he got free past Mane.