A last minute extra-time penalty goal from Aston Villa Youri Tielemans saw Belgium crawled from two goal down to beat Senegal 3-2.
The Africa nations Cup winners almost had the game put to bed before a late rally which was started by Romelu Lukaku.
In a match that will be talked about for years, Belgium pulled off a miraculous turnaround which secured their place in the Round 16 of the ongoing World Cup.
From the opening whistle, Senegal looked like the team on a mission. Playing with high energy and tactical discipline, they controlled the tempo and kept Belgium’s stars on the back foot.
Sadio Mane and Iliman Ndiaye were constant threats on the wings, repeatedly stretching the Belgian defense.
The breakthrough for Senegal came in the 25th minute. After Ismaila Sarr’s initial header struck the post, the ball landed perfectly for Habib Diarra.
He made no mistake, side-footing the ball into the net to give his side a well-deserved lead. Belgium’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, kept his team in the game with several key saves, but the pressure from the Teranger Lions was relentless.
If Belgium hopes for a fresh start after halftime were quickly dashed away. Only six minutes into the second half, Moussa Niakhate launched a beautiful long ball from the back.
Ismaila Sarr brought it down with his chest, shrugged off two defenders, and fired a powerful shot past Courtois to make it 2-0.
At this point, Senegal looked set for the next round. However, Belgium’s coach, Rudi Garcia, knew a change was needed.
He moved quickly to bring on fresh legs, substituting key playmakers in a desperate attempt to find a lifeline.
As the clock ticked toward the 85th minute, the match seemed destined to end in a Senegal victory. Belgium found a spark when they needed it most.
Thomas Meunier, who had come off the bench, delivered a perfect cross into the box. Romelu Lukaku, showing his trademark strength, met the ball at the near post to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The goal breathed new life into the Belgian squad, and just three minutes later, they were level. Leandro Trossard sent in a dangerous ball that found Youri Tielemans, who headed home to make it 2-2. The game headed into extra time of 30 minutes more.
Both teams pushed for a winner, showing incredible strength despite the fatigue. Senegal went close through Ibrahim Mbaye, and Belgium’s Dodi Lukebakio struck the crossbar in a moment of pure tension.
Just when it seemed the match would be decided by a penalty shootout, the game took a final, dramatic turn. In the 125th minute, Youri Tielemans was brought down inside the box.
After a tense wait for a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot. Tielemans stepped up and calmly fired the ball into the top corner, securing a 3-2 victory and sending Belgium into the Round of 16.
The defeat was a cruel one for Senegal as they had played with pride and controlled large portions of the match, but they left the pitch with their heads held high despite the result.
Manager Pape Thiaw praised his players’ efforts, noting that while the loss was painful, their performance showed the world what the Lions of Teranga are capable of.
For Belgium, the win was a testament to their squad depth and resilience. Recovering from a two-goal deficit in a knockout game is never easy, and this match will surely be remembered as one of the highlights of the tournament.
The Red Devils will now look ahead to their next challenge in Seattle on July 6, where they will face the United States of America next.
Belgium lived to fight another day, while Senegal leaves the 2026 World Cup with a performance that earned them immense respect from football fans across the globe.
