In a stunning turn of events, Belgium secured their spot in the World Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, July 1st, by defeating Senegal with a dramatic 3-2 victory. The decisive goal came from a penalty converted in the dying moments of extra time, capping off an incredible comeback.
Senegal appeared to be cruising to victory, holding a two-goal lead until the 85th minute, thanks to strikes from Habib Diarra in the 24th minute and Ismaïla Sarr in the 51st. However, the Belgian “Red Devils” mounted an astonishing late surge. Romelu Lukaku ignited the comeback in the 86th minute, followed swiftly by Youri Tielemans finding the net in the 89th minute, forcing the match into extra time.
The encounter had been anticipated as an unpredictable clash, given that both teams had displayed inconsistent form leading up to this fixture, each having recorded two draws and one win in their previous matches.
From the outset, the Senegalese side launched a relentless offensive, putting the Belgian defense under immense pressure. Belgium’s formidable goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid, standing at 1m99, could only get a fingertip to a cross from Ismail Jakobs, set up by the relentless Sadio Mané. Ismaïla Sarr’s subsequent effort struck the post in the 13th minute. However, Habib Diarra broke the deadlock in the 24th minute. Following another incisive cross from Mané on the left flank, Sarr’s header once again rattled the post, but the 22-year-old Diarra reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.
Belgium’s unexpected resurgence
At halftime, Belgian coach Rudi Garcia, a Frenchman, made bold tactical changes, substituting Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jérémy Doku for fresh legs, including the impactful Romelu Lukaku. Despite these changes, Senegal extended their lead shortly after the restart with Ismaïla Sarr’s second goal.
The cooling break in the second half proved timely, not just for the heat, but for tensions visibly flaring between Belgian captain Youri Tielemans and teammate Leandro Trossard. Yet, this friction seemed to spark a dramatic turnaround. An impressive long-range shot from Ismail Jakobs narrowly missed Diaw’s top corner in the 77th minute. Then, Romelu Lukaku finally found the breakthrough in the 86th minute. Belgium’s all-time leading World Cup scorer, now with six goals, reignited hope for his team. Just three minutes later, Tielemans headed in an equalizer, bringing Belgium level in the 89th minute.
The initial period of extra time unfolded without much incident, but the final minutes were nothing short of electrifying. Belgian substitute Dodi Lukébakio saw his shot deflected onto the crossbar in the 117th minute. However, a penalty was awarded after a video assistant referee (VAR) review for an irregular tackle, allowing captain Tielemans to step up and coolly convert, securing a miraculous victory for Belgium.
“In football, anything is 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,” coach Rudi Garcia commented after the match.
Belgium, semi-finalists in 2018 but surprisingly eliminated in the group stage four years ago, will now prepare for their Round of 16 clash on July 7th, where they will face either the United States or Bosnia-Herzegovina.
For the Senegalese players, participating in their fourth World Cup, their journey ends with profound regret following a match that slipped from their grasp. This disappointment may echo the controversial forfeiture of 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.
