For an hour, Senegal looked comfortably in control. By the end of a chaotic night in Seattle, they were out of the World Cup — beaten by a Belgium side that refused to accept defeat.
Senegal in command
Senegal took charge of the last-32 tie early, going ahead through Habib Diarra in the first half and doubling their lead through Ismaïla Sarr shortly after the interval to move 2-0 up, ESPN reported. For much of the match the African side looked the sharper and more threatening team, and a place in the round of 16 appeared within their grasp.
The comeback
Belgium's revival came late. Romelu Lukaku pulled a goal back in the 86th minute, and just three minutes later Youri Tielemans headed an equalizer to level the tie at 2-2 and force extra time. The momentum had swung, and Senegal — so assured earlier — were suddenly hanging on.
The decisive moment arrived at the very end of extra time. Belgium were awarded a penalty following a review, and Tielemans stepped up to score from the spot in the 125th minute, as France 24 reported. Reports noted the goal, struck deep into the additional period, was among the latest winning goals ever recorded at a World Cup.
Elation and heartbreak
The result sent Belgium, managed by Rudi Garcia, through to the round of 16, where they will meet the winner of the match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina. For Senegal, it was a painful way to exit a tournament they had seemed set to progress in, undone in the final stretch after leading for so long.
Comebacks from two goals down are rare in knockout football, where a late deficit usually proves fatal, and rarer still to be completed on a stoppage-time penalty in extra time. For Belgium, a team whose recent tournament history has been marked by near-misses, it was the kind of escape that can define a campaign — and a reminder that, at a World Cup, few leads are ever entirely safe.
