MALI-TUNISIA FOOTBALL. Quickly reduced to ten against eleven, Mali lost to Tunisia on Friday evening in Bamaki, on the score of a goal to nil, in the first leg of the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup. The second leg will take place Tuesday evening. Check out the match summary.
20:20 – The summary of the match: Tunisia take a step towards Qatar
Tunisia is not yet officially qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar next November, but the Carthage Eagles came halfway on Friday evening by managing to win in Bamako (0-1), against to a good team from Mali who will have failed to take the lead in this double confrontation. The players of Malian coach Mohamed Magassouba are however the first to stand out in front of their supporters massed in the stadium of March 26, through Diaby (17th) and Dorgeles (29th). But while the Malian Eagles dominate, defender Moussa Sissako scores against his camp on a harmless pass back to his goalkeeper (0-1, 36th). Four minutes later, he was sent off for a foul on Jaziri who was heading for goal (40th) and left his teammates at 10 against 11 for another 50 minutes.
But Mali will not give up and will even dominate the second period against the Carthage Eagles, who are satisfied with this result for the return match scheduled for next Tuesday in Tunisia. Entering the game, Adama Traoré is very close to equalizing (51st) but misses the target. Diaby also thinks of equalizing but is countered at the last moment in the area (68th). Lacking precision in the last 25 meters, the Malians will not return. But, far from being unworthy, Mali has not said goodbye to the first World Cup in its history either. We will have to avoid major mistakes and show the same state of mind in Radès next Tuesday to succeed in reversing the situation against this experienced Tunisian team.
20:12 – The return match scheduled for Tuesday in Tunisia
After this victory for Tunisia on Friday in Mali (0-1), the two teams will meet on Tuesday evening in Radès, Tunisia (9:30 p.m.), to play the decisive return match with a view to qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
20:07 – The complicated evening of Moussa Sissako on video
Mali defender Moussa Sissako had a very complicated evening during the match between Mali and Tunisia. The young PSG-trained player made two terrible mistakes in the first half. He first scored against his side on a harmless pass back for his goalkeeper (36th) before being excluded a few minutes for a foul as the last defender on Jaziri (40th). Relive his goal in video.
20:02 – Tunisia takes a step towards Qatar
By winning by the narrowest of margins in Bamako (0-1), this Friday evening in the first leg of the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup, Tunisia took an option for a sixth qualification for a World Cup. The Tunisians, battered despite their numerical superiority for 50 minutes, will however have to be wary of this good team from Mali in the return match.
19:57 – It’s over in Bamako! Mali loses against Tunisia (0-1)
Mr. Weyesa whistles the end of the match in Bamako! Mali lost to Tunisia in this first leg of the 2022 World Cup play-offs (0-1), after an own goal from Sissako in the first period (36th). The Malian defender was excluded shortly after (40th).
19:54 – Kouyaté receives a yellow card
Malian central defender Kiki Kouyaté receives a logical yellow card for a foot too high, which grazed the face of poor Khenissi. The Tunisians demand a red card, but the referee disagrees.
19:52 – Mali: Diaby replaced
Fifth and last change for Mali in this additional time. Abdoulaye Diaby gives way to Saliou Guindo, who celebrates his first selection this evening, for these last moments.
19:51 – Five minutes of additional time
Mr. Weyesa grants five minutes of additional time for this second period between Mali and Tunisia. The Malians will push in these last minutes to try to equalize!
19:48 – Tunisia still averts the danger
Mali gets a new corner at the end of the match but the defense of Tunisia still manages to turn around and clear the ball away.
19:46 – Tunisia: Msakni and Sliti replaced
Two changes are made on the Tunisian side. Msakni and Sliti are replaced by Ben Slimane and Ben Ouanes in the Tunisian team, which will try to defend its short advantage.
19:44 – Mali: Doumbia comes into play
Cheick Traoré is replaced by Moussa Doumbia for the latter side of Mali. For Tunisia, changes are also on the way…
19:41 – New corner for Mali
The Malians continue to push in this end of the match despite the numerical inferiority. They obtain a new corner in this meeting but the defense of Tunisia releases the ball once again in the distance.
19:38 – It’s back to Bamako
The two teams from Mali and Tunisia have returned to the lawn of the March 26 stadium and play can resume for the last quarter of an hour. The Carthage Eagles still lead one goal to nil in this game.
19:37 – New cool break in Bamako
As in the first period, the game is stopped for a few moments so that the players can quench their thirst in the heat of Bamako. There is still a quarter of an hour to play.
19:35 – Corner for Mali
The March 26 stadium wakes up after a corner obtained by Mali, but the defense of Tunisia manages to ward off the danger quite easily. No danger for the Eagles of Carthage.
19:32 – 20 minutes left to play
There are still twenty minutes left for the Malians to succeed in returning to this first leg of the play-offs for the 2022 World Cup. Mali is still led by Tunisia (0-1), from the goal against his camp in Sissako (36th).
19:29 – Diaby countered at the last moment
On a good cross from Adama Traoré, Abdoulaye Diaby manages to volley from the penalty spot but a Tunisian defender against the ball from behind! The Malians claim a penalty, without success.
19:26 – Tunisia: Jaziri gives way
As play resumed, Tunisia striker Jaziri was replaced by Khenissi for the last 25 minutes of this meeting between Mali and Tunisia. This is the first Tunisian substitution of the match.
19:24 – The Tunisian goalkeeper remains on the ground
Tunisia goalkeeper Bechir Ben Saïd remains on the ground after contact after contact with one of his defenders on a free kick in favor of Mali. The game is stopped for a few moments.
19:22 – Mali does not give up
Even outnumbered since the 40th minute, Mali did not let go in this second period and, pushed by the supporters present in the March 26 stadium, the Malians did not give the impression of being 10 against 11.
19:18 – Tunisia manages its lead
The Tunisian team does not seem to want to score this second goal since the resumption, despite the numerical superiority. The Tunisians do not put rhythm and take no risk offensively.
19:15 – Corner in favor of Tunisia
The Tunisians, jostled at the start of the second period, still get a corner. Naïm Sliti hits him at the near post but it is cleared by Mali and Nader Ghandri commits a big foul on Diaby to cut the block. Yellow card for the Tunisian defender.
19:12 – What a strike from Traoré!
Mali does not give the impression of being outnumbered at the start of the second period. Adama Traoré, from the right wing, transplants in the axis and triggers a powerful shot from the left but the ball escapes the frame for a few centimeters.