In a truly last-gasp effort, Belgium dramatically clinched their spot in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, July 1st. The Red Devils overcame Senegal with a thrilling 3-2 victory, sealed by a penalty converted in the dying moments of extra time.
Senegal had established a commanding two-goal lead, with Habib Diarra scoring in the 24th minute and Ismaïla Sarr adding another in the 51st minute, maintaining their advantage until the 85th minute. However, Belgium mounted an incredible late surge. Consecutive goals from Romelu Lukaku in the 86th minute and Youri Tielemans in the 89th minute sensationally forced the match into extra time.
The encounter was anticipated to be unpredictable, given both teams’ earlier World Cup performances of two draws and one victory each. Senegal started with fierce intensity, relentlessly pressuring the Belgian defense. The formidable Thibaut Courtois, Belgium’s and Real Madrid’s towering goalkeeper, could only brush a cross from Ismail Jakobs, set up by Sadio Mané. Ismaïla Sarr lunged for the ball but struck the post in the 13th minute. Habib Diarra finally broke the deadlock in the 24th minute. Following another relentless cross from Mané on the left flank, Sarr’s header once again hit the post, but the 22-year-old Diarra was quickest to react, slotting home the rebound.
An unexpected Belgian resurgence
At halftime, Belgium’s French coach, Rudi Garcia, implemented significant tactical changes, substituting Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jérémy Doku for fresh legs, including Romelu Lukaku. Despite these adjustments, Senegal immediately extended their lead with Ismaïla Sarr’s goal.
The second-half cooling break proved aptly named, as tensions flared between Belgian captain Youri Tielemans and teammate Leandro Trossard. Yet, from this heated exchange emerged a powerful resolve. Ismail Jakobs’ long-range strike narrowly missed Diaw’s top corner in the 77th minute. Then, Romelu Lukaku finally found the back of the net in the 86th minute, becoming Belgium’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with six goals and reigniting hope for his team. Just three minutes later, Tielemans headed in the equalizer in the 89th minute, bringing Belgium level.
The initially subdued extra time burst into life in the closing minutes. Belgian Dodi Lukébakio saw his shot deflected off the crossbar in the 117th minute. However, a penalty was awarded after video review confirmed an irregular tackle, allowing captain Tielemans to convert from the spot and send the Belgians into raptures.
“In football, anything is always possible as long as you believe. The strength of this group also comes from those who come off the bench, because you can’t achieve results with just eleven players,” Rudi Garcia commented to the FIFA website after the match.
Belgium, semi-finalists in 2018 but eliminated in the group stage four years ago, will now face either the United States or Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 16 on July 7th.
For the Senegalese players, participating in their fourth World Cup, this exit will undoubtedly leave a bitter taste, perhaps as much as their forfeit loss in the last Africa Cup of Nations to Morocco. “We are eliminated, and it hurts. We must congratulate the team who gave everything, but unfortunately, we couldn’t manage our lead,” stated coach Pape Thiaw.
