In a truly last-gasp effort, Belgium dramatically clinched their qualification for the World Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, July 1st. They triumphed over Senegal with a thrilling 3-2 victory, sealed by a penalty converted in the dying moments of extra time.

Senegal had established a commanding two-goal lead, courtesy of Habib Diarra in the 24th minute and Ismaïla Sarr in the 51st minute, maintaining it until the 85th minute. However, Belgium mounted an astonishing comeback in the final stages of regular play. Successive goals from Romelu Lukaku in the 86th minute and Youri Tielemans in the 89th minute enabled the Red Devils to force the match into extra time.

The encounter was anticipated to be unpredictable, as both teams had displayed inconsistent form leading up to the match, each recording two draws and one victory in their previous outings.

The Senegalese side initiated the match with intense pressure, frequently unsettling the Belgian defense. Thibaut Courtois, the towering 1.99m goalkeeper for the Red Devils and Real Madrid, could only get a slight touch on a cross from Ismail Jakobs, set up by Sadio Mané. Ismaïla Sarr lunged for it but struck the post in the 13th minute. Habib Diarra finally broke the deadlock in the 24th minute. Following another dangerous cross from Mané, who was relentless on the left flank, Sarr’s header once again hit the post, but the 22-year-old Diarra reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.

belgium’s unexpected resurgence

At halftime, Belgian coach Rudi Garcia, a Frenchman, made decisive tactical changes, substituting Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jérémy Doku for fresh legs, including Romelu Lukaku. These changes didn’t yield immediate results, as Senegal extended their lead with another goal from Ismaïla Sarr.

The second-half cooling break proved aptly named, highlighting the palpable tension, including a heated exchange between Belgian captain Youri Tielemans and teammate Leandro Trossard. Yet, from this friction emerged a powerful resurgence. A long-range strike from Ismail Jakobs narrowly missed Diaw’s top corner in the 77th minute. Then, Romelu Lukaku finally found the net in the 86th minute. Belgium’s all-time leading World Cup scorer, with 6 goals, ignited hope throughout the team. Just three minutes later, Tielemans headed home to level the score for Belgium in the 89th minute.

The initial period of extra time was subdued, but the final minutes erupted with intensity. Dodi Lukébakio of Belgium saw his shot deflected off the crossbar in the 117th minute. However, a penalty awarded after VAR intervention for an irregular tackle allowed captain Tielemans to convert, securing the dramatic victory for Belgium.

“In football, anything is possible as long as you believe. The strength of this group also comes from those who come off the bench, because you can’t achieve results with just eleven players,” Rudi Garcia remarked after the match.

Belgium, who were semi-finalists in 2018 but surprisingly exited in the group stage four years ago, will now advance to the Round of 16 on July 7th, where they will face either the United States or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Senegalese players, participating in their fourth World Cup, exit the tournament after a match that will undoubtedly leave them with profound regrets, perhaps as much as their controversial loss of the last Africa Cup of Nations to Morocco. “We are eliminated, and it hurts. We must commend the team for giving their all, but unfortunately, we couldn’t hold onto our lead,” stated coach Pape Thiaw.