In a truly last-gasp effort, Belgium clinched their spot in the World Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, July 1st, by defeating Senegal with a decisive penalty kick converted at the very end of extra time, securing a 3-2 victory.
Senegal had established a formidable two-goal lead, with Habib Diarra finding the net in the 24th minute and Ismaïla Sarr adding another in the 51st. However, the Red Devils staged an incredible late surge. Romelu Lukaku ignited the comeback in the 86th minute, followed swiftly by Youri Tielemans’ equalizer in the 89th, pushing the enthralling contest into extra time.
The encounter was highly anticipated, with both teams entering the match having displayed inconsistent form, each recording two draws and one win in their previous fixtures.
The Senegalese side began with aggressive attacking play, constantly challenging the Belgian defense. Thibaut Courtois, the towering goalkeeper for the Red Devils and Real Madrid, could only get a fingertip to a cross from Ismail Jakobs, set up by Sadio Mané, before Ismaïla Sarr’s diving effort struck the post in the 13th minute. Habib Diarra, however, broke the deadlock in the 24th. Another relentless cross from Mané on the left flank saw Sarr’s header once again denied by the post, but the 22-year-old Diarra was quickest to react, slotting the rebound home.
Belgium’s improbable turnaround
At halftime, French coach Rudi Garcia made significant tactical adjustments for Belgium, withdrawing Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jérémy Doku, and introducing Romelu Lukaku. These changes didn’t immediately yield results, as Senegal extended their lead with Ismaïla Sarr’s second goal.
The second-half cooling break proved timely, given the palpable tension that erupted between Belgian captain Youri Tielemans and teammate Leandro Trossard. Yet, from that friction emerged a fierce determination. Ismail Jakobs’ long-range shot narrowly missed Diaw’s top corner in the 77th minute, signaling a shift. Then, Romelu Lukaku finally found his breakthrough in the 86th minute, his sixth World Cup goal reigniting hope for his team. Just three minutes later, Tielemans headed in the equalizer, bringing Belgium level in the 89th minute.
The initial period of extra time unfolded without much excitement, but the final minutes exploded with action. Dodi Lukébakio saw his powerful shot deflected off the crossbar in the 117th minute. However, a crucial penalty was awarded after a VAR review for an irregular tackle, allowing captain Tielemans to step up and heroically deliver the winning goal for Belgium.
Coach Rudi Garcia reflected on the victory, stating, “In football, anything is always possible as long as you believe. The strength of this group also comes from those who come off the bench, because you can’t achieve results with just eleven players.”
Belgium, who reached the semi-finals in 2018 but were eliminated in the group stage four years prior, will now face either the United States or Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 16 on July 7th.
For the Senegalese players, this marks their fourth World Cup appearance, ending in a match that will undoubtedly leave them with profound regrets, perhaps echoing the disappointment of losing the last Africa Cup of Nations to Morocco. Coach Pape Thiaw commented, “We are eliminated, and it hurts. We must congratulate the team who gave their all, but unfortunately, we couldn’t manage our lead.”
