Senegal limped through to the quarter-final of the Under-20 World Cup in South Korea after a goalless draw against Ecuador in their last group game in Jeonju on Sunday.
However, the African side also suffered a heavy cost with two key players now suspended for the knockout rounds. Centre-back Cavin Diagne got his marching orders right at the end of the Group F match after picking up a second yellow card while fellow defender Souleymae Aw was cautioned for a second time in the tournament.
Senegal now meet Mexico in Inchoen after finishing second in their group behind the USA but ahead of Saudi Arabia on goal difference.
Senegal were left disappointed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) after Aliou Badji had put the ball into the net 10 minutes into the second half.
A goal was awarded by referee Antonio Mateu of Spain but then disallowed after a video review which did not conclusively show that the Ecuador goalkeeper Jose Cevallos had both hands on the ball when Badji kicked it from his grasp on the goal-line.
Cevallos had let a header from Ibrahima Niane from a Senegal corner slip through his legs and, as he turned to recover the ball, it was forced in by Badji.
But it was Senegal goalkeeper Mouhamed Mbaye who was the busier of the two at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium. He stopped several good efforts from Ecuador, who had to win to stay in the tournament.
In the first half Mbaye denied Joao Rojas and Herlin Lino and near the end of the game made a good stop to thwart Rojas again.
Senegal, who were semi-finalists at the last U-20 World Cup in New Zealand two years ago, are joined in the knockout round by Zambia, who clinched their progress on Saturday.