Senegal miss out on top spot after Burkina Faso snatch draw

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Senegal were unable to move into pole position in Group D after Alain Traore's marvellous late free kick rescued a 2-2 draw for ten-man Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou.

The Lions of Teranga led until the 89th minute after goals from Ismaila Sarr and Sadio Mane had cancelled out Bertrand Traore's fine opener, but Pep Ndiaye deflected Traore's free kick past his own goalkeeper late on to ensure the points were shared.

The drew means that Burkina Faso end the international break in top spot on six points, level with Cape Verde, and in control of their own destiny as they eye a maiden World Cup performance.

Senegal are fourth on five points, with South Africa - who lost both halves of their double-header against Cape Verde - in fourth place on four points.

Burkina Faso, who finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon earlier this year, started brightly after holding Senegal to a 0-0 draw in Dakar in the first leg, and took the lead in the ninth minute through Traore.

The Olympique Lyonnais forward picked up the ball in the right-hand channel and cut inside before slamming a left-hand shot past Khadim N'Diaye from the edge of the Senegalese box.

Senegal improved after falling behind, and equalised just before the half-hour mark, when Sarr met a cutback in the box.

Their prospects improved just before half time when Issoufou Dayo was dismissed for a second yellow, and they capitalised on their man advantage in the 75th minute when Mane continued his fine recent form after being picked out by his cross-Merseyside rival Idrissa Gueye before clipping the ball over advancing Burkinabe stopper Kouakou Herve Koffi

However, there was a late sting in the tail, and Senegal's stuttering campaign continued when Traore's left-footed free kick clattered off the woodwork and deflected off substitute goalkeeper Ndiaye and over the line.