Belgium secured a dramatic victory over Senegal in a match that saw them recover from a two-goal deficit, culminating in a late penalty converted by Youri Tielemans. The game, which extended into extra time, was decided in the 122nd minute after a VAR review led to the decisive spot-kick.
The match had been a back-and-forth affair, with Rudi Garcia’s side trailing 2-0 after 85 minutes. However, a late surge saw them score twice in three minutes to force extra time, canceling out goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr for Senegal.
Senegal’s Early Dominance
Senegal started the match with strong momentum, carrying over their form from a previous outing where both teams had scored five goals. Ismaïla Sarr nearly opened the scoring early, hitting the post after Thibaut Courtois parried a cross into his path. Sarr was again denied by the woodwork midway through the first half, but Habib Diarra was quick to react, tapping in the rebound to give Senegal the lead.
The Lions of Teranga maintained their advantage into half-time, with Belgium’s closest attempt being a long-range effort from Maxim De Cuyper that forced a save from Mory Diaw. Senegal’s opener came after Sadio Mané’s cross was headed by Sarr against the post, with Diarra on hand to convert from close range. Diarra celebrated with the Senegalese supporters as Garcia urged his team to remain calm.
Senegal continued to press, with Diarra missing a chance wide after Mané beat Timothy Castagne. Moments later, Sarr doubled Senegal’s lead. Moussa Niakhaté delivered a diagonal ball towards the edge of Belgium’s 18-yard box. Sarr, despite the presence of three Belgium defenders and having the run on Arthur Theate, controlled the ball on his chest, allowed it to bounce, and then struck it past Courtois. At this point, a Belgium victory seemed unlikely.
Belgium’s Resilient Comeback
Garcia made a significant change at half-time, bringing on Romelu Lukaku, but this substitution did not immediately alter the flow of the game. Senegal’s lead was extended when Sarr latched onto a ball over the top and finished past Courtois.
In response, Garcia substituted key players Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku. Despite these changes, the team initially struggled to find their rhythm. However, after Courtois made a crucial save from Sadio Mané, Belgium began their comeback. With only four minutes of regular time remaining, Lukaku scored, converting Thomas Meunier’s cross at the near post.
The equalizer came just three minutes later. Mory Diaw, the Senegal goalkeeper, struggled to deal with a cross from Leandro Trossard, allowing Tielemans to head the ball into an open net. Tielemans had reportedly instructed Trossard on where to deliver the ball, pointing to the space behind Niakhaté. The Aston Villa midfielder, positioned between Niakhaté and Ismail Jakobs, rose to beat Diaw, who was deputizing for Édouard Mendy.
Before Belgium’s comeback, Courtois had prevented Senegal from extending their lead to 3-0 with only six minutes of regular time left. Mané, who was influential in Diarra’s opener, was denied by Courtois’s save to his right. The match then proceeded to extra time, with both teams having opportunities to score.
Controversial Deciding Moment
The decisive moment arrived in the 122nd minute of extra time. With penalties seemingly imminent, the referee, Saíd Martínez, awarded Belgium a stoppage-time penalty after a VAR review. The VAR, Guillermo Pacheco Larios, highlighted an incident where Lamine Kamara swiped at Tielemans’s left ankle just before Dodi Lukébakio hit the crossbar.
Tielemans stepped up to take the spot-kick and sent Diaw the wrong way, securing a remarkable victory for Belgium and propelling Garcia’s side into the last 16. Garcia himself received a booking amidst the celebrations following the equalizer. Lukaku, a half-time substitute, and Tielemans were instrumental in the comeback, with Lukaku having a slow-burn impact before converting Meunier’s cross. Lukebakio, a Benfica winger, also made an impact from the bench after replacing Doku. Another substitute, Nico Raskin, replaced De Bruyne and played a mediating role during an exchange between Trossard and Tielemans.
The victory followed Belgium’s 5-1 win over New Zealand, a result that had been viewed with caveats due to the opposition being the lowest-ranked team in the competition. This match against Senegal, however, tested Belgium’s resolve against a strong opponent.
The late penalty from Tielemans ensured Belgium’s progression in the tournament.
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Source: theguardian.com
