Justin Palmer
Senegal midfielder Salif Diao gave away a penalty, equalised and was then sent off as the West Africans kept up the momentum in their first World Cup by holding Denmark to a 1-1 draw in group A on Thursday.
Denmark lead group A on goals scored. Both Denmark and Senegal have four points ahead of France and Uruguay, who were without a point before their encounter later on Thursday.
Senegal, 1-0 conquerors of France in their opening game of the tournament, fell behind in the 16th minute when Diao bundled over Jon Dahl Tomasson and the Danish striker scored from the spot for his third goal of the tournament.
But Diao made amends seven minutes after the break when he popped up at the end of a superb flowing counter-attack that began in defence to fire the equaliser past Thomas Sorensen.
Diao, booked in conceding the penalty, was then sent off by referee Carlos Batres for a dangerous over-the-ball challenge on Rene Henricksen 11 minutes from time.
Senegal, missing influential captain and central defender Aliou Cisse, found the Danish defence and goalkeeper Sorensen impossible to crack in the opening 45 minutes.
But it was a different story in the second half after coach Bruno Metsu introduced substitutes Henri Camara and Souleymane Camara, replacing ineffective duo Pape Sarr and Moussa Ndiaye.
Henri Camara's pace began to trouble the Danes, visibly suffering in the energy-sapping heat of Taegu, and it was no surprise when Senegal levelled.
Omar Daf robbed Martin Jorgensen deep in his own half and a sweeping passing move culminated with Khalilou Fadiga playing in Diao to beat Sorensen.
Souleymane Camara wasted a great chance to fire Senegal ahead on 69 minutes, the striker shooting wastefully wide when well-placed to score, then Lamine Diatta sent a header wide.
A physical first half, in which Batres brandished three yellow cards and had to break up a melee involving Stig Tofting and Fadiga, also featured plenty of goalmouth action at either end.
Tomasson, who netted twice in Denmark's opening 2-1 defeat of Uruguay, gave his side an early lead with a well-taken penalty, beating Senegal goalkeeper Tony Sylva to his right.
Senegal almost got an instant reply with Thomas Sorensen beating out a Khalilou Fadiga header then after the Danish defence had only half-cleared, parrying a low struck shot from El Hadji Diouf.
