World Cup wonder goals: Salif turns superhero
Watch Salif Diao cap off a wonderful counter-attack for Senegal against Denmark at Korea/Japan 2002.
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Denmark v Senegal Korea/Japan 2002 / Group A Daegu World Cup Stadium, Daegu
Salif Diao’s story started with a spot-kick concession and ended with a sending off. The filling in his sandwich, however, made up for it. When Henri Camara made a superb sliding challenge on Martin Jorgensen, Diao was inside his own penalty area. Fourteen seconds later the defensive midfielder had scored from inside Denmark’s, capping off a counter-attacking clinic. “When I gave away the penalty, I felt like I had let my country down,” explained Diao. “I could have accepted it, fallen apart, but I said, ‘No, I am going to make amends. “At moments like that, you’re no longer yourself. You become like a movie superhero.” The point helped The Lions of Teranga script a fictional story and, at their first World Cup, reach the knockout phase.
The Korea/Japan 2002 quiz Highlights: Denmark 1-1 Senegal Diop and Diouf star as Senegal slay France