Belgium survive Senegal scare to reach World Cup last 16 on latest goal in tournament history

Belgium came back from two goals down in the dying minutes of normal time to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the World Cup round of 32 at Seattle Stadium on Wednesday 1 July, with captain Youri Tielemans scoring the latest goal in the history of the tournament to seal one of the most dramatic results of the competition so far.

Tielemans converted a penalty 124 minutes and 44 seconds into the match — a record for men's World Cup football, according to Opta — to send Belgium through to the last 16, where they will face the United States at the same stadium on Monday 6 July.

Senegal in control for 86 minutes

Senegal, who qualified for the knockout stage as one of the eight best third-place teams, dominated the match from the outset. Habib Diarra, the Sunderland midfielder, opened the scoring on 25 minutes after Ismaïla Sarr's flicked header came back off the upright and Diarra reacted quickest to finish into the empty net. Sadio Mané had provided the initial inswinging cross.

Senegal doubled their lead six minutes after the break. Moussa Niakhaté played a precise long ball, Sarr controlled it on his chest having escaped between the Belgian centre-backs, and the Crystal Palace forward fired into the top-right corner past Thibaut Courtois. At that point, Senegal appeared to be heading comfortably into the last 16.

Four minutes that changed everything

With the clock approaching the 86th minute and Belgium's World Cup seemingly over, substitute Romelu Lukaku pulled one back. Thomas Meunier crossed from the right and Lukaku swept a near-post finish past goalkeeper Mory Diaw. Three minutes later, Tielemans headed home a looping cross from Leandro Trossard, with Diaw misjudging his position to leave the net unguarded. Belgium had equalised with less than a minute of normal time remaining, sending the match into extra time.

The additional period was tense and largely goalless until, with penalties seemingly inevitable, Tielemans was brought down in the box by Lamine Camara. A lengthy VAR review lasting around seven minutes confirmed the penalty, and Tielemans, despite sustained gamesmanship from Senegal players on and around the spot, slotted into the top-right corner at 124 minutes and 44 seconds — the latest goal ever recorded in a World Cup match, Opta confirmed.

Records and history for Belgium

Belgium's turnaround echoed their own 2018 World Cup comeback, when they also overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Japan 3-2 after extra time in the round of 16. Opta noted they are only the second side in World Cup history to win two such matches, after West Germany in 1954 and 1970.

Coach Rudi Garcia had introduced Lukaku and Meunier at half-time with Belgium trailing 1-0. His substitutions proved decisive, though the manner of the victory will fuel debate: ESPN reported that the VAR penalty decision was contested by Senegal's players at length, and the process from review to kick being taken stretched to seven minutes.

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw's post-match reaction was captured in a brief quote attributed to Diarra on the FIFA website: "We're disappointed. A match lasts 90 minutes, and we're devastated." Senegal depart the tournament having reached the round of 32 for the second consecutive World Cup.

Belgium face the United States next

Belgium, who topped Group G with five points following draws against Egypt and Iran and a 5-1 win over New Zealand, will now play the United States in Seattle on 6 July. The Americans defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in their own round-of-32 tie later on Wednesday night. The two sides met at the 2014 World Cup, when Belgium won 2-1 to eliminate the USA in the round of 16.

The round-of-16 match at Seattle Stadium kicks off on Monday 6 July.