Belgium stuns Senegal 3-2 in World Cup Round of 16 thriller
Down two goals, Tielemans and Lukaku force extra time before Tielemans’ 120th-minute penalty seals a miraculous win. Belgium now faces the USA or Bosnia in the quarterfinals.
Belgium completed one of the most improbable comebacks in World Cup history, overturning a 2-0 deficit against Senegal to win 3-2 in extra time. Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans leveled the match in the final minutes of regulation, sending the game to the 30-minute extra period. Tielemans then buried a 120th-minute penalty to secure Belgium’s place in the quarterfinals.
Senegal dominated early, with Habib Diarra and Ismaila Saar combining for the opening goals inside the first 20 minutes. Belgium’s defense buckled under relentless pressure, but a tactical switch and the introduction of substitute players sparked a late surge. Lukaku, who had been subdued for most of the match, headed home a cross in the 89th minute to pull Belgium level.
