Senegal hang on to reach second round

Senegal 3 Uruguay 3

Senegal 3 Uruguay 3

World Cup debutants Senegal fought their way into the second round today despite throwing away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Uruguay in Group A.

Uruguay, who are now eliminated from the tournament, trailed 3-0 at half-time but staged a furious fightback.

But Senegal just held on to take their points tally to five - enough to advance behind Denmark, who eliminated reigning champions France.

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Khalilou Fadiga opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 20 minutes after Uruguay `keeper Fabian Carini brought down El-Hadji Diouf in the area.

Pape Bouba Diop, the Senegalese hero against France on the opening day, netted a beauty six minutes later following a flowing counter-attacking move created by Henri Camara.

Diop then smacked home a third before the break - though he looked to be fractionally offside when Camara teed him up.

The Senegalese needed only the draw to reach the second phase after shocking France and drawing with the Danes while Uruguay had to win by at least two goals to have a hope of advancing.

In the second half, substitute Richard Morales pulled one back for Uruguay.

Moments later, Manchester United striker Diego Forlan hit a right-foot screamer past Sylva for 3-2.

In a nailbiting finish Senegal should have gone 4-2 up when Diouf fired straight at Carini. Forlan then went close for Uruguay but dragged his effort wide.

But there was still time for more drama as substitute Habib Beye brought down Morales and Uruguay claimed a consolation equaliser through Alvaro Recoba's confident penalty on 88 minutes.

Morales then squandered a late opportunity and Senegal held on for the result they needed after an entertaining epic marred by eleven yellow cards.