Tielemans’s penalty late into stoppage time of additional time capped Belgium’s comeback from 2-0 down in Seattle.
Revealed On 2 Jul 2026
Youri Tielemans struck a One hundred and twenty fifth-minute penalty as Belgium rallied from two objectives down and defeated Senegal 3-2 after further time of their World Cup final -32 conflict in Seattle to maintain alive their title hopes, which had appeared useless and buried.
Senegal’s Lamine Camara slid in on Tielemans because the ball flashed throughout the face of purpose and conceded the spot kick after a video assistant referee overview, with the Belgian selecting out the highest nook to finish a unprecedented comeback on Wednesday.
Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr had given Senegal a deserved 2-0 lead, and so they appeared to be cruising by way of to the following spherical earlier than Belgium netted twice within the last 4 minutes by way of Romelu Lukaku and Tielemans to drive further time.
Belgium now face the winner of Wednesday’s last-32 conflict between cohosts United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina within the subsequent spherical in Seattle on Monday.
It was merciless on Senegal, who managed a lot of the 90 minutes, and struck the woodwork twice, however couldn’t see out the sport.
They grew to become the fourth African facet to bow out in a slim defeat within the final 32 after South Africa, Ivory Coast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and can surprise how they managed to let this one slip.
Senegal have been inches away from the lead when Ismail Jakobs’s cross from the left was parried by Thibaut Courtois, however a stretching Sarr might solely steer the free ball onto the submit.
When the African facet did break the impasse within the twenty fifth minute, it was no shock. Sadio Mane’s cross was headed goal-wards by Sarr, however his effort got here off the submit once more.
This time, the free ball fell kindly for Diarra, and he side-footed dwelling from 7 yards.
Maxim De Cuyper compelled a wonderful save from Senegal goalkeeper Mory Diaw with a shot that appeared to be heading into the highest nook as Belgium trailed on the break.
Belgium introduced on Lukaku for the ineffective Charles De Ketelaere at half-time, however have been quickly 2-0 down.
A surprising lengthy go from Moussa Niakhate was brilliantly managed on the chest by Sarr, who held off two defenders earlier than thundering the ball into the web within the 51st minute.
Belgium struggled to create clear-cut probabilities till the ultimate 5 minutes, and virtually out of nowhere turned the sport on its head by netting twice in three minutes.
First, Lukaku turned the ball in on the close to submit from Thomas Meunier’s low cross, and Leandro Trossard’s ball into the field from deep was headed into the web by Tielemans.
These two had been concerned in a heated change earlier within the match, nevertheless it was all smiles and hugs when the equaliser went in, earlier than Tielemans was central once more within the winner.
