Belgium secured a dramatic progression to the Round of 16 of the World Cup 2026 after overturning a two-goal deficit against Senegal. The match concluded with a 3-2 victory for Belgium after extra time, marked by a late penalty decision that sealed Senegal’s exit from the tournament.
For much of the contest, Senegal appeared to be cruising into the next stage. Goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr put them in a commanding 2-0 lead with only four minutes remaining in normal time. Sarr’s goal, scored six minutes into the second half, followed a brilliant first touch from Moussa Niakhate’s long pass, allowing him to calmly beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
However, Belgium mounted an extraordinary comeback. Substitute Romelu Lukaku ignited the revival by scoring in the 86th minute. Just three minutes later, Youri Tielemans netted the equaliser in the 89th minute from Leandro Trossard’s cross, forcing the game into extra time. This marked the latest any team had trailed by two or more goals in regulation time and gone on to avoid defeat at a World Cup.
Controversial Penalty Decides Outcome
The decisive moment arrived deep into extra time. With a penalty shootout seemingly imminent, Tielemans was brought down inside the box. Following a VAR review, a penalty was awarded for Lamine Camara’s challenge on Tielemans. The decision was met with protest from Senegal’s players, with defender Pathe Ciss reportedly lying on the penalty spot in protest.
Despite the controversy, Tielemans calmly converted the penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time in extra time, clocking in at 124 minutes 44 seconds. This goal is noted as the latest scored in World Cup history, completing one of the competition’s most remarkable knockout comebacks. Former England defender Gary Neville expressed doubt about the penalty, stating, "I genuinely don’t believe that is a penalty." Former Republic of Ireland skipper Roy Keane added that the penalty seemed "a bit harsh" and questioned the time taken for the referee to make the decision.
Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, chose not to directly criticise the penalty decision, stating, "I do not want to interpret the decision. We all have different interpretations when it comes to awarding a penalty." He acknowledged the team’s disappointment, saying, "It is a cruel loss, as we were good in the game. We had the advantage. We were leading 2-0. However a football match is not an 85-minute one."
Belgium’s Resilience and Senegal’s Heartbreak
This victory marks only the second time in the last 11 FIFA World Cups that a team trailing by two or more goals in a knockout match has recovered to advance. Ironically, Belgium was also responsible for the other such comeback, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to beat Japan 3-2 in the 2018 Round of 16. Players like Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne, Thomas Meunier, and Romelu Lukaku were part of that 2018 squad.
Senegal’s heartbreak was compounded by recent history, as they had previously been stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations title earlier in the year. In that instance, a stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco after a VAR check led to scenes where coach Thiaw ushered his team off the field, ultimately proving costly despite a 1-0 win against the hosts.
Belgium’s manager, Rudi Garcia, highlighted the team’s belief and the strength of the squad, including players coming off the bench. He noted that "In football, anything is always possible as long as you believe in it." The team’s resilience was evident, with Lukaku not only changing the game but also acting as a peacemaker during a heated argument between teammates Tielemans and Trossard during a hydration break. Belgium will now prepare for a last-16 meeting with either co-hosts United States or Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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Source: bbc.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
