Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Tielemans’ penalty late in extra time saw Belgium go back to 2-0 in Seattle.
Published on 2 Jul 2026
Youri Tielemans scored a 125th-minute winner as Belgium came from two goals down to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in their last-32 World Cup match in Seattle to keep alive their title hopes, which looked dead and buried.
Senegal’s Lamine Camara got in on Tielemans as the ball crossed the goal line and conceded a shot after an opponent’s assist video, while the Belgian headed into the top corner to complete Wednesday’s stunning comeback.
Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr gave Senegal a deserved 2-0 lead, and they looked set to progress to the next round before Belgium scored twice in the last four minutes through Romelu Lukaku and Tielemans to force extra time.
Belgium will now face the winner of Wednesday’s last-32 clash between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the next round in Seattle on Monday.
It was brutal for Senegal, who dominated most of the 90 minutes, and hit the woodwork twice, but could not see the game out.
They became the fourth African side to concede a narrow defeat in the last 32 after South Africa, Ivory Coast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and will wonder how they managed to get this one down.
Senegal were inches away from taking the lead when Ismail Jakobs’ cross from the left was headed in by Thibaut Courtois, but the outstretched Sarr could only steer the ball onto the post.
When the African side broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, it was no surprise. Sadio Mane’s cross led to a goal by Sarr, but his effort bounced off the crossbar.
This time, the curling ball fell kindly to Diarra, who headed home from 7 yards.
Maxim De Cuyper forced a superb save from Senegal midfielder Mory Diaw with a shot that looked to be heading over the bar as Belgium almost took a break.
Belgium brought on Lukaku for the inactive Charles De Ketelaere at the last minute, but soon found themselves 2-0 down.
Moussa Niakhate’s stunning cross was headed onto the chest by Sarr, who held off two defenders before smashing the ball into the net in the 51st minute.
Belgium struggled to create a clear chance until the final five minutes, and suddenly turned the game on its head and scored twice in three minutes.
First, Lukaku turned the ball over at close range from Thomas Meunier’s low cross, and Leandro Trossard’s cross into the box from deep was headed into the net by Tielemans.
The pair were involved in a heated exchange early in the match, but it was all smiles and hugs as the equalizer came in, before Tielemans was once again among the winners.
