Play store
Belgium national football team staged a remarkable late comeback to defeat Senegal national football team 3-2 after extra time in their FIFA World Cup last-32 clash on Wednesday, keeping their title hopes alive with one of the tournament’s most dramatic victories.
Youri Tielemans converted a penalty in the 125th minute after a VAR review awarded Belgium a spot-kick when Lamine Camara fouled him inside the box. Tielemans calmly sent the ball into the top corner to complete an extraordinary turnaround.
Belgium will now face United States men’s national football team in the round of 16 after the co-hosts defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier on Wednesday.
Senegal appeared firmly in control for much of the match after Habib Diarra opened the scoring in the 25th minute before Ismaïla Sarr doubled the lead shortly after the break with a powerful finish following an excellent long pass from Moussa Niakhaté.
The African side had also struck the woodwork twice and created several clear chances, while Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced into a series of important saves.
Trailing 2-0 with only minutes remaining, Belgium launched a dramatic fightback.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku pulled one back by turning in a low cross from Thomas Meunier before Tielemans headed home the equaliser from a delivery by Leandro Trossard to force extra time.
With the match seemingly heading for penalties, Belgium earned a late spot-kick after VAR ruled that Camara had brought down Tielemans inside the area.
The midfielder made no mistake from the penalty spot, sealing a dramatic victory deep into stoppage time of extra time.
The defeat was a heartbreaking end for Senegal, who had dominated large parts of the contest but became the fourth African nation to exit the tournament after a narrow defeat in the last 32, following South Africa, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
