Second-half goals by Mamadou Niang and substitute Guirane Ndaw gave
Senegal a 2-0 away win over Greece in a friendly international.
Greece in no way justified its 10th place in the world
rankings - up from 12th last month - announced by FIFA a few hours
before the match as it was outplayed throughout.
It was Greece's first preparation game ahead of the World Cup
in South Africa - it will play further friendlies against Paraguay
and North Korea before this summer's finals, where it will take on
Nigeria, Argentina and South Korea in Group B.
Both teams started tentatively and it was not until the 27th
minute that a chance was created, Niang breaking free only to see
his shot blocked by goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas.
At the other end, Greece striker Georgios Samaras just failed
to meet a cross by Pantelis Kapetanos in the 37th minute.
Senegal, which did not qualify for the World Cup, stepped up
its game in the second half although it was the home side which
nearly opened the scoring in the 61st minute. Senegal goalkeeper
Khadim Ndiaye fumbled the ball which midfielder Costas Katsouranis
lobbed towards goal, only for Souleymane Diawara to clear just
before it crossed the line.
In the 71st minute, Marseille striker Niang, who is the top
scorer in the French league, received a pass by Dia just outside
Greece's area, split defenders Nikos Spiropoulos and Sotirios
Kyrgiakos with a clever dribble and placed the ball past goalkeeper
Costas Halkias, who had replaced Tzorvas at halftime.
The few dozen Senegalese fans in the crowd had to be
restrained by stewards from jumping onto the pitch in celebration.
Ndaw made it 2-0 in the 82nd with a powerful freekick into
Halkias' right corner.
Greece tried to reduce the deficit but it was Senegal which
nearly scored again in the 87th, when Halkias used his legs to
block a shot by Mame Biram Diouf.
Lineups:
Greece: Alexandros Tzorvas (Costas Halkias, 46), Vangelis
Moras (Evripidis Makos, 70), Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Nikos Spiropoulos,
Loukas Vyntra, Alexandros Tziolis, Georgios Karagounis (Avraam
Papadopoulos, 46), Costas Katsouranis, Pantelis Kapetanos
(Theofanis Gekas, 46), Georgios Samaras (Lazaros
Christodoulopoulos, 66), Angelos Charisteas (Dimitris Salpingidis,
46).
Senegal: Khadim Ndiaye, Souleymane Diawara, Kader Mangane
(Malickou Diakhate, 77), Boukary Drame, Jacques Faty, Souleymane
Camara (Mame Biram Diouf, 57), Mickael Tavares (Makhtar Thioune,
83), Remy Gomis (Guirane Ndaw, 56), Issiar Dia (Demba Ba, 70),
Mamadou Niang, Diomansy Kamara (Moussa Sow, 44).
