Senegal’s victory over Ireland is saved by Super Sub Sarr

Ismaila Sarr, a replacement, tied the score with nine minutes left in the Dublin match between the Republic of Ireland and Senegal, drawing the score at one.

In the twenty-first minute, Kasey McAteer, making his first Irish start, gave the home team a well-earned lead against a Senegal team without Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Nicolas Jackson.

Ryan Manning’s cross was glanced into the box by captain Nathan Collins, and Yehvanne Diouf made an incredible save to keep McAteer’s first header out.

But the first to react was the midfielder for Leicester City, who brought the ball down, turned it, and threw it into the open net.

As Senegal tried to equalize, Caoimhin Kelleher, the new Brentford goalkeeper, was called upon to push the ball off the line after making an amazing fingertip save to deflect Krepin Diatta’s header against the crossbar.

After Iliman Ndiaye’s cross found Cherif Ndiaye, who forced Kelleher to make another excellent save, Sarr quickly scored the rebound in the 81st minute.

Both McAteer and Kelleher had a big impact. Senegal had their first opportunity to score in Dublin when the ball rolled just the wrong side of the post following Diatta’s corner, causing the blind Dara O’Shea to exhale in relief.

Following a frenetic, long-range exchange between Mamadou Camara and Will Smallbone at either end, McAteer was the first to respond after goalie Diouf blocked his first header.

It was only the second goal the African squad had let in their previous 741 minutes of play across all competitions, and the Republic had earned the lead.

For a brief moment, it looked as though the goal might give the friendly a boost when McAteer’s dangerous cross was cut out with Jack Taylor lurking.

However, that did not occur, and the game became more muted as the half wore on.

Antoine Mendy’s sliced shot, the only other attempt on goal in the first 45 minutes, came from Senegal’s sporadic forward attack.

More action started in the second half when Smallbone forced Diouf to make another fantastic save and Mendy challenged hard to stop Manning on the rebound as the full-back seemed to slot home.

Senegal looked like a much more threatening team after the half, and they nearly equalized when Kelleher raced across goal to divert the ball into the crossbar and Diatta headed Ismail Jakob’s cross towards goal.

Kelleher had to rush across his goal to knock the ball off the line again after Camara’s shot from the edge of the area rebounded off Jake O’Brien and onto the post.

Boulaye Dia’s low attempt was saved shortly later by Kelleher, who was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers after the restart.

Kelleher produced another amazing save to keep out Ndiaye with nine minutes left, but Sarr of Crystal Palace scored from close range to break Kelleher’s resolve.

Cheikh Sabaly’s header almost missed as the visitors kept up their pressure, but the Irish drew with a Senegal squad that has now won 21 straight games.

Under manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, St. Mirren midfielder Killian Phillips made his debut in the second half.

Senegal’s match against England and his team’s trip to Luxembourg on Tuesday will be their next games.