at The international friendly match between the Brazil national team and the Senegal national team took place in Lisbon on the 20th, with Senegal winning a come-from-behind victory with a score of 4-2.
Brazil had a resounding 4-1 victory against the Guinea national team on the 17th, with goals from Rodrigo, Militão, and Vinicius, three players from Real Madrid. Facing Senegal, one of Africa’s strongest teams, just two days after the previous match, Brazil made two changes to the starting lineup. Bruno Guimarães and Maucome were included in place of Casemiro and Rodrigo.
On the other hand, the Senegal national team included players such as Koulibaly, Mane, Ismaila Sarr, and Niakate in the starting lineup.
The match progressed at a somewhat relaxed pace befitting a neutral ground friendly match. However, Brazil, with its superior strength, capitalized on the first opportunity and scored a goal.
In the 11th minute, Vinicius, who had the ball on the left side, delivered an exquisite cross, and Paqueta, who had found himself free in front of the goal, scored with a well-placed header.
Having taken an early lead, Brazil intensified their offensive. In the 13th minute, Richarlison, who had broken through from Malcolm’s pass on the right side, narrowly missed the target with a shot from the right side of the box. Immediately after that, Vinicius, who made a move inside the box, was fouled by Papa Djibril Cissé, winning a penalty. However, the offside during the breakthrough was called, and ultimately, the penalty was canceled.
Then, around the 15th minute, Senegal began to push back and steadily converted their few scoring opportunities into goals. In the 22nd minute, a cross from the right side created a scramble in front of the goal, and Habib Diallo, who reacted to the opponent’s defender’s headed clearance in the center of the box, skillfully struck a right-footed volley into the left corner of the goal.
The game, which returned to a 1-1 draw, turned into a back-and-forth battle from this point on. While Brazil generally had more possession time, Senegal also managed to counterattack and create finishing opportunities. In that flow, Pap Gaye’s shot, taking advantage of a mistake in the opponent’s back pass, also threatened goalkeeper Ederson.
Later on, Brazil increased their attacking intensity towards the end of the game and obtained a free-kick in a good position just outside the box in the first half’s additional time. Danilo aimed directly at the goal, but his powerful shot on target was saved by goalkeeper Diaw.
The second half, with no changes in the lineups for both teams, also turned into a closely contested affair. However, an unexpected turn of events led to Senegal scoring a come-from-behind goal.
In the 52nd minute, after Diallo and Mane persisted near the box, Sarr ran into the box from the right and crossed, and Marquinhos’ desperate clearance ended up in the goal net.
With the momentum in their favor, Senegal added another goal shortly after in the 55th minute. Pap Gaye’s sharp turnaround shot, after breaking through on a through pass from Sarr, was saved by goalkeeper Ederson, but the rebound was connected. Then, Mane skillfully controlled the ball with his right foot, slightly moving it towards the inside from the left side of the box, and struck a perfect shot that pierced the far post.
Despite being a friendly match, Brazil, who couldn’t afford to lose, made two immediate substitutions. Richarlison and Malcom were replaced by Pedro and Honi. Then, in the 58th minute, Marquinhos reacted to a loose ball following a right corner kick and successfully scored a floated shot into the bottom right corner of the goal.
With the margin reduced, a more open development was expected from this point on, but gradually the game became deadlock. Brazil sent André and Vega, domestic players, onto the pitch. In response, Senegal made substitutions, bringing in players like Kouyaté and Jackson after the 80th minute.
Towards the end of the game, there were heated battles and minor clashes due to intense duels for the ball, causing the stadium’s atmosphere to escalate. However, they couldn’t create any notable chances in the offensive plays near the goal.
However, just before the end of the game, Jackson was fouled by goalkeeper Ederson inside the box, earning a penalty kick, which was calmly converted by Mane, securing the fourth goal that sealed Senegal’s victory.
And thus, a thrilling friendly match between South American powerhouse Brazil and African powerhouse Senegal ended with Senegal winning a come-from-behind victory with a score of 2-4.
Brazil 2-4 Senegal
Brazil
- Paqueta (11th minute)
- Marquinhos (58th minute)
Senegal
- Habib Diallo (22nd minute)
- Own goal (52nd minute)
- Mane (55th minute)
- Mane (97th minute [penalty kick])
