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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
JOE KRISHNAN

Brazil 1-1 Senegal: Roberto Firmino on target but Selecao left frustrated by African side

Roberto Firmino's goal was not enough to hand Brazil victory as Senegal claimed a 1-1 draw in their international friendly in Singapore.

To some it was merely an international friendly but for Liverpool fans, it was the chance to see two of their star men - Firmino and Sadio Mane - go head-to-head in the Far East.

And it was the Brazilian who struck the first blow, giving the Selecao the lead after just eight minutes of play.

Gabriel Jesus, playing wide on the right-hand side, cut in and thread a perfectly-weighted ball into Firmino's path. The striker took it into his stride and cleverly dinked over Alfred Gomis to score his 13th international goal.

Neymar, making his 100th appearance for the Selecao, looked eager to mark the occasion with a goal but Senegal, without being too forceful, kept the PSG star quiet in the first half.

On target: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino: Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Having snuffed out most of Brazil's attacks in the final third, Senegal showed their pace on the counter and nearly levelled when Mane's powerful effort was pushed away by Ederson.

Then came a moment of magic from Mane. The 26-year-old sped past Dani Alves with a burst of pace and cut inside Marquinhos before being hauled down by the centre-back, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot.

Up stepped Famara Diedhiou and the Bristol City striker powered a low effort into the corner past Ederson.

Famara Diedhiou celebrates his equaliser. Photo: Reuters

Both sides made several changes in the second half and the tempo died down as a result.

Senegal nearly won it late on when Mane struck the post with a curling effort from 20 yards, but both sides shared the spoils on a warm evening in Singapore.

Brazil XI: Ederson; Dani Alves (c), Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro; Arthur, Casemiro, Coutinho; Gabriel Jesus, Roberto Firmino, Neymar.

Subs: Weverton, Eder Militao, Richarlison, Aderbar, Rodrigo Caio, Matheus Henrique, Renan Lodi, Fabinho, Lucas Paqueta, Everton Soares, Gabriel Barbosa, Marcinho.

Senegal XI: Gomis; Gassama, Sane, Koulibaly, Coly; Kouyaté, Diatta, Gueye; I. Sarr, Diedhiou, Mane.

Subs: A. Diallo, Ciss, Pape, D. Diallo, Keita Balde, S. Sarr, Loum, Ndiaye, Thioub, Wague.

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