Belgium 3-2 Senegal: Controversial 125th minute penalty sees Red Devils advance to last 16 | OneFootball

Belgium completed a sensational comeback against Senegal to secure their spot in the last 16, coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in extra time, with a 125th minute penalty.

Habib Diarra opened the scoring shortly before the half-hour mark, when he followed up on Ismaïlla Sarr’s rebounding header to poke home from close range. Sarr added the second for Senegal just minutes into the second-half, with a fierce volley into the top corner.

Romelu Lukaku gave Belgium a lifeline late in the day before a last gasp header from Youri Tielemans levelled the score to take the match to extra time.

Tielemans was on the scoresheet again with virtually the last kick of the game, when he converted a spot kick to complete a spectacular comeback and win the match for Belgium.

As it happened

Rudi Garcia named an unchanged starting XI following his side’s 5-1 win over New Zealand, which saw them win their group. Meanwhile, Senegal made two changes to their side, with Iliman Ndiaye and Pathé Ciss replacing Ibrahim Mbaye and Abdoulaye Seck after their emphatic 5-0 win over Iraq last time out.

Leandro Tossard registered the first shot on target after five minutes, when his powerful strike was well saved by Mory Diaw. However, the best chance of the opening stages of the game fell to Sarr, who looked to pounce on a mistake from Thibaut Courtois; however, the forward’s stretching effort struck the post from inside the six-yard box.

Sarr was denied by the woodwork once again, this time with a header, before Diarra followed in and poked the rebound into a virtually empty net to give Senegal the lead in the 24th minute. Sadio Mané looked to double his side’s lead 10 minutes later, but slipped at the vital moment, causing his shot to roll into the grateful arms of Courtois.

Jérémy Doku came close to a leveller shortly before half-time, when his low cross was deflected towards goal and well held by Diaw. The Senegalese keeper was called into more spectacular action moments later, denying Maxim De Cuyper’s long-range strike, meaning his side retained their 1-0 lead going into the break. Lukaku was introduced at half-time, replacing Charles De Ketelaere.

Senegal flew out of the traps in the second half, when Sarr controlled a beautiful ball over the top before volleying into the top corner from inside the penalty area. The Red Devils responded with a double change that saw Nicolas Raskin and Dodi Lukébakio replace Doku and Kevin De Bruyne, who has now perhaps made his final appearance in a Belgium shirt.

Another change followed shortly after, with Hans Venaken replaced by Diego Moreira. The first yellow card of the match was shown to Brandon Mechele in the 63rd minute after he body-checked Sarr. As Belgium began to gain a foothold in the match, Senegal made their first change, with Lamine Camara replacing Pape Gueye in the middle of the park. The midfielder was almost immediately booked for a mis-timed challenge on Trossard.

Frustration continued to grow for the Belgian’s, which was only amplified when Tielemans and Trossard shared some seemingly harsh words on the pitch. Lukaku was the peacemaker and kept the two from coming to blows.

Ndiaye and Diarra were then replaced by Pape Sarr and Mbaye as they looked to protect their lead and cruise through the remaining 17 minutes. Lukébakio came within inches of giving his side a lifeline in the 77th minute, when his curling effort flew narrowly wide from the edge of the area. Belgium’s final change saw De Cuyper replaced by Thomas Meunier.

Timothy Castagne gave away a free-kick right on the corner of the penalty area with 10 minutes left on the clock; however, Ismail Jakobs’ delivery was headed away with ease. Minutes later, Castagne was involved at the other end of the pitch, but he was unable to direct his header on target. Tielemans was next up to try and find the net, but his effort flew over the crossbar.

Mané flew through on goal in the 84th minute and got his shot away, but Courtois got down fast to palm it away before the former Liverpool winger was flagged offside. Lukaku popped up at the near post to give his side a lifeline with just five minutes of regular time remaining, flicking the ball over the keeper and into the far corner, a classic poachers’ finish.

Mbaye looked to diminish any Belgian hope moments later, when he burst into the box before firing high and wide of Courtois’ goal. Belgium got their equaliser at the first time of asking with the next attack, when Diaw failed to punch Trossard’s cross away and instead saw Tielemans head the ball past him and into the back of the net to send the match to extra time.

Mané and Jakobs were withdrawn by Senegal early in extra time, replaced by Malick Diouf and Nicolas Jackson. Senegal’s final change followed shortly after, with Idrissa Gana Gueye being replaced by Bara Ndiaye.

The first half of extra time largely passed both sides by, with the only flashpoint being a ball that Rasking drilled into the area, which somehow evaded the feet of three of his teammates. A combination of youth almost won the match for Senegal in the second half of extra time, when B.Ndiaye’s cutback found Mbaye, who clipped his shot wide. Belgium’s final change followed, with Amadou Onana replacing Trossard for the remainder of the match.

A break in play came shortly after, when a nasty clash of heads left Moreira in need of medical treatment; thankfully, he was able to carry on after a short break. B.Ndiaye was at the heart of the action again minutes later, when he took aim from distance but could only find Courtois’ gloves.

Jackson was next up to try and regain the lead for his side, twisting and turning inside the area before winning a corner, but Diouf’s delivery was comfortably dealt with. All hell broke loose inside the Senegalese penalty area in the 116th minute; the ball flew across the face of goal before Lukébakio kissed the crossbar with his shot. However, that was not the end of the chance, as Belgium were awarded a penalty after a VAR review for a foul on Tielemans when the ball flashed across the box.

Tielemans stepped up to the plate after a lengthy delay and calmly fired into the top corner, giving his side the lead in the 125th minute.

One last chance came the way of Senegal, who won a free-kick in the 131st minute of the match, which P.Sarr fired well wide, confirming Belgium’s spot in the last 16 having come back from the brink of elimination.