Ismaila Sarr scored a penalty he earned himself to help Senegal beat Ecuador 2-1 and reach the knockout phase of the 2022 World Cup.

In the process, the forward became only the second Watford player to score at a World Cup Finals, 40 years after Gerry Armstong memorably netted the winner as Northern Ireland beat Spain 1-0 to top their group and also progress to the next round.

What’s more, Sarr and Senegal will now face England in the Round of 16 on Sunday after Gareth Southgate’s side beat Wales 3-0 to top their group.

That game will be live on ITV, kicking off at 7pm.

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Having started the win over Qatar wide on the right, Sarr began the match with Ecuador on the left and was instantly in the game as his first touch after just 57 seconds drew a heavy challenge and foul from full-back Angelo Preciado.

In the second minute his flicked header helped create a chance for Idrissa Gueye, whose shot went wide.

Sarr collected a punched corner clearance from Ecuador keeper Hernan Galindez in the 10th minute, took a touch on the edge of the box and then let fly with a shot that was blocked.

Three minutes later he nutmegged Preciado, allowing Papa Gueye to strike a shot that Galindez got down to smother.

In the 23rd minute the Watford forward shifted the ball onto his left foot and curled a shot towards the far post, that was deflected wide for a corner.

His next piece of action was to send in a cross that was just too far ahead of Illiman Ndiaye, but Sarr’s performance drew praise from TV pundit Andros Townsend, who said: “When Sarr gets the ball, Ecuador are getting three or four defenders around him.”

Having set up a chance for striker Boulaye Dia that he sent straight at the keeper, Sarr’s pivotal moment arrived in the 43rd minute.

He raced into the box to meet a quickly-taken free kick, poking the ball past Felix Torres before being sent crashing to the ground by Piero Hincapie. French referee Clement Turpin pointed immediately to the spot and, despite the obligatory Ecuadorian protests, all TV replays showed the decision was totally correct.

Sarr stepped up slowly – and Watford fans will have remembered his recent failures from the spot – but this time he calmly stroked the ball into the bottom right corner while never taking his eyes off keeper Galindez: the perfect ‘no look’ spot kick.

Watford Observer: Ismaila Sarr wheels away after scoring his penalty.Ismaila Sarr wheels away after scoring his penalty. (Image: Action Images)

It capped an impressive first-half display from Sarr and, as Townsend said in commentary: “Senegal needed their main man today, and they’ve got him.”

Ten minutes into the second half Sarr was on the receiving end of another heavy foul from Preciado, before he showed some great skill to juggle the ball and lob it over a defender and into the box, almost freeing Dia.

Ecuador levelled after 67 minutes but three minutes later Chelsea’s Kalidou Koulibaly smashed home what proved to be the winner.

Sarr was happy to drop deeper and track back from then on, often showing great pace and enthusiasm to get back behind the ball when possession was lost.

He was seen deep in conversation with Senegal manager Aliou Cisse during a lengthy injury stoppage in the 73rd minute, and shortly after he showed a tremendous first touch to take down a high ball and get past Preciado in one movement. He accelerated to the by-line and was challenged, winning a corner despite some half-hearted penalty appeals.

The closing stages saw Sarr and his teammates sit in and defend stoutly, and he then joined in the raucous celebrations once the final whistle went.

It was the first time Senegal have won back-to-back games at a World Cup Finals, and they became the first African nation to beat South American opposition at a World Cup finals since Cameroon overcame Colombia in 1990.