Soccer: Senegal through after thrilling 3-3 draw

8.30pm

SUWON, South Korea - Senegal tonight reached the second round of the World Cup at their first attempt after a thrilling 3-3 draw with a battling Uruguay who fought back from 3-0 down at halftime.

Needing only a point to stay in the competition, the Africans took no chances as they raced to a 3-0 lead.

A dubious 20th-minute Khalilou Fadiga penalty and two shots by Pape Bouba Diop had Senegal seemingly in total control.

But they had to endure a nail-biting second half as Uruguay, playing virtually five up front, pulled one back through Richard Morales 18 seconds after the restart and Diego Forlan basted home a superb volley in the 69th minute.

The African side managed to hold out and their reward for a wonderful first round, which included a 1-0 victory over champions France and a 1-1 draw with Denmark, is a meeting with either Argentina, England or Sweden, who will settle group F on Wednesday.

For Uruguay, twice winners of the competition but appearing for the first time since 1990, it was a little too late.

A 2-1 defeat to Denmark and a goalless draw with 10-man France, when they missed a bagful of chances, means that they failed to reach the second round for only the third time in 10 tournaments.

After a cagey opening spell, the game exploded into life after 19 minutes when Paolo Montero, Uruguay's captain and vastly experienced Juventus centre back, mistimed a backpass to goalkeeper Fabian Carini.

El Hadji Diouf seized on it, pushed it past Carini then went flying over the top of the sliding goalkeeper who didn't appear to make any contact with the player. The penalty was duly awarded and Fadiga slammed in it confidently.

Six minutes later Henri Camara galloped clear down the left before picking out Pape Bouba Diop who sidefooted into the roof of the net.

He scored his second and Senegal's third in the 38th minute when, with the Uruguayans appealing in vain for offside, he touched in another Camara cross via the bar.

Desperate Uruguay coach Victor Pua threw on Forlan and Morales for the second half, joining first half replacement Mario Regueiro in a virtual five man front line and the move paid immediate dividends.

They attacked from the restart and after Senegal goalkeeper Tony Sylva parried a Dario Silva shot Morales pounced to pull one back from close range.

The goal stung Uruguay into action with Alvaro Recoba once again pulling the strings.

After a series of missed chances they pulled another back 20 minutes from time when Forlan, without a goal all season at Manchester United, chested down a clearance and fired in a perfect volley.

Carini kept Uruguay in it with a good save with his legs from El Hadji Diouf and Forlan then rolled one agonisingly wide 10 minutes from time.

That and another bad miss by Silva appeared to cost them dear, as had the misses against France.

Recoba equalised from the penalty spot in the 88th minute after Morales was brought down but with time running out Morales failed to grab the winner, missing with a header from five metres.

Senegal, runners-up in this year's African Nations Cup final, are now able to dream of bigger things.

- REUTERS

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