Belgium overcame a 2-0 deficit in Seattle with Tielemans’ penalty kick in the second half of overtime.
Published July 2, 2026
In the last World Cup match in Seattle, Belgium fought back from two goals down to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time, with Youri Tielemans converting a penalty in the 125th minute to keep their hopes of winning the title alive.
Senegal’s Ramin Kamara slid in to Tielemans as the ball crossed the goal plane, and the spot-kick was conceded after review by the video assistant referee, with the Belgian completing Wednesday’s extraordinary comeback with a top corner.
Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr gave Senegal a deserved 2-0 lead and it looked as if they would progress to the next round, but Belgium scored two goals in the final four minutes from Romelu Lukaku and Tielemans to force extra time.
Belgium will play the winner of Wednesday’s last-32 match between co-hosts USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the next round on Monday in Seattle.
It was brutal for Senegal, who controlled most of the 90 minutes and hit the crate twice, but could not see the match through.
They became the fourth African team, after South Africa, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to narrowly lose in the last 32, leaving you to wonder how they missed out on this game.
Senegal came within centimeters of taking the lead when Thibaut Courtois parried a cross from Ismail Jacobs from the left, but Sarr was only able to hit the ball against the post.
It was no surprise when the African side broke the deadlock in the 25th minute. Sadio Mane’s cross was headed home by Sarr, but his shot hit the post again.
This time the loose ball fell kindly to Diarra, who side-footed home from seven yards.
With Belgium trailing towards the end of the first half, Maxime de Kuiper made a good save from Senegalese goalkeeper Molly Diaw and fired a shot that appeared to head into the top corner.
Belgium were ineffective at half-time Lukaku came on for Charles de Ketelaer, but they immediately found themselves 2-0 down.
Sarr brilliantly controlled a long pass from Moussa Niakate with his chest, keeping two defenders at bay and firing the ball into the goal in the 51st minute.
Belgium struggled to create clear chances until the final five minutes, but almost out of nowhere they turned the game around, scoring two goals in three minutes.
First, Lukaku turned back Thomas Meunier’s low cross at the near post, and Tielemans headed the ball into the net from Leandro Trossard from deep in the box.
The pair had a heated exchange early in the game, but there were smiles and hugs exchanged when the equalizer was scored, before Tielemans was once again at the heart of the winner.
