ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Senegal handed England a reality check on Tuesday night, breaking the Three Lions’ 22-match unbeaten run against the West African side with a convincing 3-1 win at the City Ground.
The friendly fixture marked a historic milestone for Senegal, who extended their own unbeaten streak to 24 matches. Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, and Cheikh Sabaly sealed the win, cancelling out an early strike from England captain Harry Kane.
Kane Scores Early, But Senegal Take Control
England began brightly, with Kane opening the scoring in the 7th minute. The captain capitalized on a rebound after Senegal’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy spilled a low shot from Anthony Gordon. However, the early lead proved short-lived.
Senegal leveled just before halftime. Nicolas Jackson’s low delivery from the right found Sarr, who beat Kyle Walker to the ball and slotted home from close range. The goal marked the first England had conceded under new manager Thomas Tuchel.
Diarra, Sabaly Seal Memorable Senegal Win
After the break, Senegal intensified their press and took the lead in the 62nd minute. Diarra received a lofted ball over the top, showing composure to finish through Dean Henderson’s legs.
England pushed for an equalizer, with Jude Bellingham briefly sparking hope before his goal was disallowed for handball in the buildup. Mendy later denied Bukayo Saka with a sharp save.
Senegal’s dominance was confirmed in added time when substitute Cheikh Sabaly beat a fatigued English backline to score a third, drawing boos from sections of the home crowd.
Tuchel Acknowledges “Disappointing” Performance
Tuchel, who had made ten changes to the squad that narrowly beat Andorra last week, admitted his team struggled to assert themselves.
“Disappointing result. Maybe we didn’t deserve to lose by two goals, but for long stretches we looked frozen, not active enough,” said Tuchel. “We conceded two very easy goals. Our reaction was better once we were down, more aggressive, more fluid. But we must improve quickly.”
Despite the setback, England’s manager emphasized the need for perspective as new players adapt to the system ahead of the World Cup.
Kane Calls for Urgent Response
Captain Harry Kane echoed the call for improvement.
“We had moments, but with and without the ball things aren’t clicking. We’ve lost that aggressive nature we had,” he told ITV. “We’re not going to panic. But we know we need to be better. There are new ideas, new players, and no excuses. We need to find our rhythm — and fast.”
Senegal Shine on Global Stage
Senegal, under coach Aliou Cissé, impressed throughout — outshooting England nine to four in shots on target. Their fluid transitions and pressing game unsettled England’s rotated squad, highlighting Senegal’s growing stature in international football.
With momentum firmly on their side and the World Cup approaching, Senegal’s win serves as both a confidence boost and a statement of intent.
