Youri Tielemans’ 120th-minute penalty turned Belgium’s collapse against Senegal into a 3-2 World Cup escape and sent them from the Round of 32 into the Round of 16.
For anyone following Belgium Senegal live, it had looked settled by the 70th minute: Senegal were 2-0 up, Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku had already been withdrawn, and Tielemans was in a visible verbal clash with Leandro Trossard.
Senegal seize control as Belgium unravel
Senegal took the early initiative and nearly led in the 14th minute when Ismaïla Sarr hit the post after Thibaut Courtois failed to deal cleanly with a cross. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute, Sadio Mane finding Sarr, whose shot again struck the post before Habib Diarra turned in the rebound.
Belgium still finished the night with 52% possession and 19 shots to Senegal’s 16, but the first half felt far less secure than those numbers suggest. Diaw denied dangerous efforts from Doku and De Cuyper before the break, while Senegal carried a 1-0 lead into half-time.
Romelu Lukaku ignites Belgium’s late rescue
Lukaku came on at half-time for Charles De Ketelaere, but Senegal struck again in the 51st minute. Niakhaté’s deep pass opened Belgium’s defence and Sarr timed his run to make it 2-0.
Belgium’s nerves showed, especially at the 70th-minute cooling break, yet the match flipped in the final minutes. Lukaku met Thomas Meunier’s cross in the 86th minute to cut the deficit, then Trossard delivered in the 89th and Tielemans headed in after Diaw’s poor reaction.
Youri Tielemans decides Belgium Senegal drama
Extra time stayed open: Mbaye missed Senegal’s major chance in the 109th minute, and Lukebakio hit the post in the 118th. After a VAR check in the 119th minute for a foul on Tielemans, the midfielder converted from the spot at 120 minutes.
The shot count on target ended level at 5-5, and so did the yellow cards at 1-1, but Belgium owned the decisive final surge.
Match Information
Competition: World Cup; Date & Time: Wednesday 1 July 2026, 22:00 CET; Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle; Referee: Said Martinez, Honduras.
