Senegal put up a spirited display today but were undone by goalkeeping errors from Edouard Mendy as they lost their opening Group A clash 2-0 to The Netherlands at the Al Thumama Stadium.
The African champions, who were without their talismanic forward Sadio Mane who has been ruled out of the tournament, held on for 84 minutes before folding and letting in goals from Cody Gakpo and Davy Klassen.
The Teranga Lions gave as good as they got in the first half in which defences stood out and both sides struggled to create any meaningful opportunities.
The game was heading to the first draw of the tournament when Mendy played a key part in Holland’s opening strike.
With six minutes left on the clock, the Chelsea goalkeeper mistimed a cross from Frenkie de Jong and watched helplessly as Gakpo headed into an empty net.
Mendy was culpable for the second goal too, pushing a weak effort from substitute Memphis Depay into the path of Klassen to drive home in injury time.
The Teranga Lions will have a shot at redemption on Friday when they face hosts Qatar.
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