Sadio Mane wins Senegal showdown, Taiwo Awoniyi ends season in style
Sadio Mane wins Senegal showdown, Taiwo Awoniyi ends season in style
Sadio Mane had his shootout penalty saved by Senegal compatriot Edouard Mendy in the FA Cup final but still claimed his trophy of the calendar year, while Mohamed Salah had yet another showpiece fixture to forget despite Liverpool's triumph.
Elsewhere in Europe, Nigeria strikers Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi added to their impressive goal hauls for the season when they struck against Genoa and VfL Bochum respectively, and both can now look forward to continental competition next season.
Mane, Mendy and Salah have crossed paths in five major 'deciders' already in 2022, with the Senegal pair victorious at the Africa Cup of Nations and across the World Cup playoffs -- both of which ended in penalty shootout victories for the Teranga Lions.
Mane was the hero at the Africa Cup of Nations, stepping up to convert the decisive spotkick having missed a penalty during regulation; Salah was Egypt's fifth taker and didn't get the chance to take his the the result had already been decided.
Salah did take a penalty in the World Cup playoffs, but, with lasers being shone in his eyes by the home supporters, failed to convert. Again, Mendy and Mane took the day, and Senegal reached Qatar.
Salah did have some more joy in the League Cup final in February, converting Liverpool's fifth spotkick in an 11-10 shootout victory in which Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga -- who had replaced Mendy as a 120th-minute tactical ploy by Thomas Tuchel -- failed to save any Liverpool penalty before missing his own attempt.
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On Saturday, after a 0-0 draw across 120 minutes, these familiar foes again had to settle their differences from the spot, with Senegal brothers Mane and Mendy this time finding themselves on opposite sides.
Mane ultimately followed in the footsteps of Lauren and Riyad Mahrez to win the Nations Cup and the FA Cup in the same year, although he missed his opportunity to be Liverpool's hero on the day when his penalty -- Liverpool's fifth -- was saved by his international teammate despite the apparent sense of destiny that had accompanied the forward's stroll to the spot.
Mendy was unable to deny either D
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