Qatar's World Cup has virtually ended with fans streaming for the exits to the sounds of jubilant Senegal drums.
The hosts face leaving their own party early and becoming the host nation who has exited the tournament in the quickest time after a 3-1 defeat which ended with supporters turning their backs to the action.
Some fans didn't return to their seats for the start of the second half with Qatar 1-0 down, and then when Senegal's Bamba Dieng put his side 3-1 up with six minutes left to play that was cue for several more fans to turn and leave.
To the constant soundtrack of drums coming from the lively supporters of the African champions, Qatar's players could barely lay a glove on their opponents for much of the match at the Al Thumama Stadium, with Aliou Cisse's side too clever and too experienced for the rudimentary tactics of the hosts.
Felix Sanchez's men did improve as the game went on, and they enjoyed a brief flurry of pressure shortly after the hour mark, but they were completely drowned out by the noise of the Senegal supporters until they pulled a goal back through forward Mohammed Muntari to reduce their deficit to 2-1.
The header was met by jubilant celebrations around the ground as Qatar celebrated their first ever World Cup goal, but it wasn't long before the game was taken away from them with Dieng's strike.
Indeed, there had been masses of empty seats shortly before kick-off as Qatar sought to recover from their 2-0 defeat to Ecuador on the World Cup's opening night.
That game had seen many supporters had leave early, a subject that manager Felix Sanchez refused to be drawn on when he faced the press the day before the Senegal clash.
Midfielder Ismael Mohammad had appeared to broach the subject though when he made a special effort to call for fans to get behind the team at Thursday's press conference.
"I think currently the squad needs the cheering more than ever before," said Mohammad. "We want to perform and make everyone proud."
Any urgency seemed to be missing from the fans shortly before kick-off, with the ground very slowly fill up and many empty seats spotted.
The official attendance at the match was eventually announced as 41,797, but there was no way there were that many at the start of the second half, with several fans from the Qatar 'ultras' section behind the goal not returning and missing Senegal's second goal scored by Famara Diedhiou.
Those who had remained did continue to back the team, singing songs, drumming and chanting as Qatar came forward, and it was Mohammad himself who came closest to scoring the goal that the Qatar craved when his close range effort was excellently saved by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The game had already largely got away from the hosts by then though, as they conceded two goals either side of half-time.
Senegal forward Boulaye Dia profited from a hapless defensive mistake from centre-back Boualem Khouki to fire home, before strike partner Diedhou headed in.
The stadium did then come alive for Muntari's history-making goal, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.
