Belgium staged a remarkable comeback against Senegal, overturning a two-goal deficit to secure a place in the last 16. The decisive moment came in the 122nd minute when Youri Tielemans converted a controversial stoppage-time penalty, following a VAR review for a foul on his left ankle by Lamine Kamara.
The match saw Belgium trailing Senegal 2-0 after 85 minutes. Goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr had put Senegal in a strong position, with Sarr notably controlling a diagonal ball on his chest before scoring past Thibaut Courtois. Sadio Mané was influential in Diarra’s opener, with his cross leading to the goal.
Belgium‘s initial performance was described as lukewarm, with early enterprise extinguished by Senegal‘s defence. Concerns about Belgium‘s age, lack of energy, and unfit key players had been highlighted in the lead-up to the game, following draws against Egypt and Iran in the group stage. Their 5-1 win over New Zealand, the lowest-ranked team in the competition, was their only prior convincing performance.
Belgium’s second-half resurgence
The turning point for Belgium came with a series of substitutions made by manager Rudi Garcia. Half-time substitute Romelu Lukaku, who replaced Charles De Ketelaere, began to make an impact. Another substitute, Thomas Meunier, provided a cross that Lukaku converted at the front post. Dodi Lukébakio, who came on for Jérémy Doku, also contributed to the team’s improved performance.
Tielemans scored Belgium‘s equaliser in the 89th minute, building on Lukaku‘s finish with a header from Leandro Trossard‘s cross. Tielemans had reportedly instructed Trossard on where to deliver the ball, pointing to the space behind Moussa Niakhaté. Nico Raskin, another substitute, played a mediating role between Tielemans and Trossard during a second-half drinks break. Raskin replaced Kevin De Bruyne, who was seen encouraging his teammates from the sidelines.
Before Belgium‘s comeback, Senegal had several opportunities to extend their lead. Courtois made a crucial save to deny Mané, preventing Senegal from making it 3-0 with only six minutes of regular time remaining. Earlier in the match, Sarr struck a post after receiving a deflected cross from Ismail Jakobs, and later, Diarra sent the ball past Courtois after Sarr‘s header hit the same post.
Senegal’s strong start and reliance on key players
Senegal‘s energetic and front-footed playing style exposed some of Belgium‘s deficiencies, particularly their reliance on Kevin De Bruyne. Senegal‘s manager, Pape Thiaw, has been credited with doing a terrific job with the team, which is noted for its quality attacking players and depth. This depth was evident when Thiaw made changes against Iraq and effectively used his bench.
Senegal had previously secured a 5-0 victory over Iraq, escaping their group as one of the best third-placed teams. They had also dominated France for 45 minutes in an earlier match before being penalised for missed chances. Despite their strong performances, Senegal came out on the wrong side of a 3-2 encounter with Norway.
The late penalty decision, awarded after a VAR review, allowed Tielemans to convert the spot-kick, sending Rudi Garcia‘s side into the next round. The match concluded with Belgium securing their place in the last 16.
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Source: theguardian.com
Harry Loxley is a Senior Football Correspondent at NewsGB.org. He spent his early career reporting East Midlands football. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Derby and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Derby, he watches non-league and runs a fan podcast. “Good football writing follows the people, not just the points.”