Belgium stage stunning comeback to sink Senegal in extra time
- Lukaku looked set to take the penalty but at the last minute handed the ball to captain Tielemans
SEATTLE: Youri Tielemans struck a 125th-minute penalty as Belgium rallied from two goals down and defeated Senegal 3-2 after extra time in their World Cup last 32 clash in Seattle on Wednesday to keep alive their title hopes that had looked dead and buried.
Senegal’s Lamine Camara slid in on Tielemans as the ball flashed across the face of goal and conceded the spot kick after a video assistant referee review, with the Belgian picking out the top corner to complete an extraordinary comeback.
Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr had given Senegal a deserved 2-0 lead and they looked to be cruising through to the next round before Belgium netted twice in the final four minutes through Romelu Lukaku and a Tielemans header to force extra time.
Belgium now face the winner of Wednesday’s last 32 clash between co-hosts United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the next round in Seattle on Monday.
Lukaku looked set to take the penalty but at the last minute handed the ball to captain Tielemans.
“We talked for a while. Romelu said, ‘take it’. And I was ready to take it,” Tielemans told Sporza.
Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr had given Senegal a deserved 2-0 lead and they looked to be cruising through to the next round before Belgium netted twice in the final four minutes through Romelu Lukaku and a Tielemans header to force extra time.
Belgium now face the winner of Wednesday’s last 32 clash between co-hosts United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the next round in Seattle on Monday.
Lukaku looked set to take the penalty but at the last minute handed the ball to captain Tielemans.
“We talked for a while. Romelu said, ‘take it’. And I was ready to take it,” Tielemans told Sporza.
Lukaku on at halftime
Belgium brought on Lukaku for the ineffective Charles De Ketelaere at halftime, but were soon 2-0 down.
A stunning long pass from Moussa Niakhate was brilliantly controlled on the chest of Sarr, who held off two defenders before thundering the ball into the net in the 51st minute.
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Belgium struggled to create clear-cut chances until the final five minutes, and almost out of nowhere turned the game on its head.
First Lukaku turned the ball in at the near post from Thomas Meunier’s low cross and Leandro Trossard’s ball into the box from deep was headed into the net by Tielemans.
Those two had been involved in a heated exchange earlier in the match but it was all smiles and hugs when the equaliser went in, before Tielemans was central again in the winner.
“I believe that our team deserved it (to win),” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said. “Unfortunately, we are eliminated. I’m extremely sad, so are the players. They did deserve the win but it didn’t work out in our favour today.”
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