Senegal exited the World Cup after a dramatic 3-2 extra-time loss to Belgium in the last-32 clash held in Seattle. The match saw Belgium stage a remarkable comeback from a two-goal deficit, sealed by a controversial penalty decision in the final moments of extra time.
Pape Thiaw’s side had established a 2-0 lead with goals from Habib Diarra in the 25th minute and Ismaila Sarr in the 51st minute. Sarr’s goal came after he expertly controlled a long pass and struck the ball past Thibaut Courtois. Earlier, Diarra had scored from a rebound after Sarr’s header hit the post.
Belgium, however, mounted a late comeback. Substitute Romelu Lukaku scored in the 86th minute from Thomas Meunier’s cross, marking Belgium’s first shot on target. Just three minutes later, Youri Tielemans headed in an equaliser from Leandro Trossard’s cross, sending the game into extra time. This turnaround meant Belgium avoided defeat after trailing by two or more goals in regulation time, a feat previously achieved by other teams.
Controversial Deciding Penalty
The decisive moment arrived deep into extra time when Lamine Camara’s challenge on Youri Tielemans led to a penalty award for Belgium. The decision followed a lengthy VAR review, which lasted approximately seven minutes. Tielemans converted the spot-kick in the 125th minute, making it the latest goal scored in World Cup history at 124 minutes and 44 seconds.
The penalty decision sparked debate among pundits. Former England defender Gary Neville stated, “I genuinely don’t believe that’s a penalty.” Roy Keane, another former player, described the decision as “very, very harsh,” noting the referee’s prolonged deliberation. The incident brought back memories for Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations final earlier in the year, where a similar late penalty decision against them led to them being stripped of the title despite a 1-0 win.
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw expressed his team’s disappointment, saying, “We’re out – it hurts. We must congratulate the team, who gave it their all, but unfortunately we weren’t able to hold on to our two-goal lead. We have to accept this. That’s football.”
Belgium’s Resilience and Next Steps
Belgium’s victory showcased the resilience of their squad, particularly their ‘golden generation’ players. Romelu Lukaku, who played only 69 minutes of club football last season, was a key figure in changing the momentum of the match. Kevin de Bruyne was substituted in the 56th minute, a visible frustration for the player, but Belgium still relied on their experienced players.
The team’s manager, Rudi Garcia, highlighted the importance of squad depth, stating, “The strength of this squad also lies in the players who come off the bench, because you can’t get results with just 11 players.” Belgium will now face co-hosts United States in the last-16.
The match also saw an on-field argument between Youri Tielemans and Leandro Trossard during a hydration break, which Lukaku reportedly helped to de-escalate. Despite these internal tensions, Belgium’s ability to come back from a significant deficit underscores their determination in the tournament.
The final score was Belgium 3, Senegal 2, after extra time.
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Source: bbc.com
