Senegal upset Uruguay

Senegal 2 Uruguay 0

Ten-man Senegal blew Group A wide open with a shock win over highly-fancied Uruguay at Wembley.

Impressive teenager Moussa Konate scored twice, either side of Abdoulaye Ba’s first-half dismissal.

And in a match littered with fouls – and five more yellow cards – Senegal kept the World Cup semi-finalists at arms’ length, with Luis Suarez coming closest when he headed into the side netting.

Outsiders to qualify before the competition started, Senegal know a victory against United Arab Emirates in Coventry on Wednesday will send them through, leaving Great Britain and Uruguay to scrap it out for the additional quarter-final berth.

A brilliant opening period ended with two goals, one red card and countless chances, leaving a sizeable crowd both breathless and absorbed beyond merely booing Suarez.

The Premier League’s new public enemy number one was the victim that brought Ba’s dismissal.

As he had already been booked, Ba could have few complaints even if Suarez was heading away from goal when he cynically chopped him down and his expulsion was confirmed by a straight red card.

Senegal were already ahead at that point.

Kanote, said to be a target for West Ham, showed lightening reactions to prod home after Martin Campana had parried Cheikhou Kouyate’s header into his path.

With a man advantage, Uruguay should have had enough class to force their way back into the contest.

Instead, thanks to a couple of excellent saves from Ousmane Mane and a goal-line clearance from Saliou Ciss, Senegal were able to double their advantage when Konate steered home Sadio Mane’s corner with a deft header.

Despite plenty of possession, Uruguay never really looked like mounting an effective response.