Tielemans’ 125th-minute penalty stuns Senegal, books Belgium’s Round of 16 escape
Belgium survived Senegal on a VAR-awarded penalty in the tournament’s latest-ever goal, capping a two-goal comeback that defied logic and time itself.
Belgium survived Senegal on a VAR-awarded penalty in the tournament’s latest-ever goal, capping a two-goal comeback that defied logic and time itself.
Belgium booked a Round of 16 date with the USA after Youri Tielemans buried a 125th-minute penalty that erased Senegal in Qatar. Belgium entered stoppage time down 2-0 to Senegal in the Round of 16, staring at elimination before referee Saíd Martínez pointed to the spot following VAR review. The decision hinged on a challenge by Lamine Camara on Tielemans inside the box in the 124th minute.
Tielemans, who had already been fouled moments earlier, stepped up and drilled home the equalizer in the 125th—making it the latest goal in World Cup history. Extra time produced no further scoring, sending the match to penalties where Belgium converted all five attempts. Senegal missed twice, including a miss by Ismaila Sarr in the shootout, sealing Belgium’s 5-3 victory on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
The sheer improbability of Belgium’s recovery—trailing by two goals with seconds left—mirrors only a handful of World Cup upsets, where late drama redefines narratives. This match now sits alongside 2005’s Liverpool vs AC Milan and 2014’s Germany vs Algeria as moments where football’s unpredictability crushed preconceived notions of momentum. The 125th-minute penalty didn’t just break a record; it shattered the illusion that knockout football adheres to any script beyond chaos.
VAR’s role in this outcome forces a reckoning with technology’s double-edged sword. While VAR has undeniably improved decision-making, its intervention here—after 124 minutes of play—exposes the tension between precision and the human drama of a dying game. The controversy isn’t just about the foul; it’s about whether football’s soul thrives on imperfection or demands absolute correctness, even at the cost of spectacle.
The psychological toll of such a collapse cannot be overstated. Senegal’s players, who had dominated possession and created multiple chances, were left frozen by the sudden reversal. Studies of high-pressure moments in elite sport show that teams leading late often experience a cognitive slowdown, making them susceptible to catastrophic errors.
Belgium, meanwhile, rode a wave of adrenaline and desperation, converting the penalty and then holding their nerve in the shootout. The contrast between the two sides’ mental states in those final minutes underscores how knockout football is as much a battle of psychology as it is of tactics. This result also reshapes Belgium’s tournament narrative.
Once dismissed as a fading golden generation, Belgium’s survival here—amid a squad now featuring younger legs like Johan Bakayoko and Arthur Theate—signals a potential shift. The 125th-minute drama may not erase the criticism of their group-stage struggles, but it does prove this team still has the capacity to defy expectations when the stakes are highest. Belgium manager Rudi Garcia admitted post-match that his side had “no right” to be in the game before the 125th-minute drama.
Senegal boss Aliou Cissé refused to criticize the officiating but called the result “unfair,” echoing the widespread disbelief across the stadium and broadcast feeds. What’s next: Belgium advances to face the USA in the Round of 16 on December 6 in Al Rayyan, while Senegal’s tournament ends in agony after a valiant but ultimately heartbreaking performance. Read at Guardian Football
A World Cup knockout decided by a penalty in the 125th minute rewrites the script for what’s possible in extra time. The controversy around the VAR call and the sheer improbability of Belgium’s comeback—trailing by two goals with seconds left—turns this match into an instant classic, one that will be dissected for decades. The result also underscores the fine margins that separate glory from elimination in modern football, where technology and human error collide under the brightest spotlight. The psychological resilience displayed by Belgium and the fragility exposed in Senegal add another layer to why this match will be studied as a case study in high-stakes football psychology.
Guardian Footballtheguardian.comBy Ben Fisher at Seattle StadiumJul 1, 10:58 PMen-gb
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