Youri Tielemans scored a stoppage-time penalty in extra time as Belgium mounted a stunning comeback from two goals down to defeat Senegal 3-2 in the round of 32 at the World Cup on Wednesday.
Dramatic Penalty Decision in Extra Time
Tielemans was fouled by Lamine Camara in the penalty area with seconds remaining in the 30 minutes of extra time. The referee awarded the spot kick after a lengthy video review, and Tielemans calmly slotted the ball into the top corner in the 125th minute to seal the victory.
Senegal Takes Early Control
Senegal struck first through Habib Diarra in the 25th minute, giving the African side a 1-0 lead. Ismaïla Sarr then doubled the advantage in the 51st minute with a stunning goal, his fourth of the tournament. Sarr controlled a long ball from Moussa Niakhaté with a perfect first touch off his chest before firing past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Belgium's Late Fightback
Substitute Romelu Lukaku sparked the comeback in the 86th minute, pulling one back for Belgium. Tielemans then equalized in the 89th minute, forcing extra time. Belgium's resilience paid off as they secured the win in the dying moments of extra time.
Belgium Advances to Round of 16
Belgium advances to the round of 16 for the third time in four tournaments. They reached the quarterfinals in 2014 and the semifinals in 2018 but failed to progress from the group stage four years ago in Qatar. The Belgians will face either the United States or Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday in Santa Clara, California.
Senegal's Tough Exit
Senegal, playing without goalkeeper Édouard Mendy due to a knee injury, had advanced to the knockout stage as one of the best third-place finishers. They emerged from a challenging group that included two-time champion France and Erling Haaland-led Norway.
Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku were surprisingly substituted in the 56th minute. More details to follow.
