Tielemans rescues Belgium with two goals in dramatic comeback against Senegal

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·1 de julio de 2026

Tielemans rescues Belgium with two goals in dramatic comeback against Senegal

Belgium completed a remarkable World Cup Round of 16 comeback, defeating Senegal 3-2 after extra time. Trailing 2-0 with five minutes of regulation remaining, Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans struck in quick succession to force extra time before Tielemans converted a VAR-awarded penalty at 120+5' to secure progression.

Senegal had controlled the first half and extended their lead through Ismaïla Sarr's superb 51st-minute finish after Habib Diarra's opener. Rudi Garcia's half-time introduction of Lukaku transformed Belgium's attacking threat, sparking a turnaround that ended Senegal's tournament in devastating fashion. GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Belgium v Senegal.

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Winners

Youri Tielemans (Belgium)

Belgium's captain delivered the two goals that transformed certain elimination into quarter-final qualification. His 89th-minute header from Leandro Trossard's cross drew Belgium level at 2-2, arriving perfectly at the back post after goalkeeper Mory Diaw came off his line poorly.

When a VAR review awarded Belgium a penalty deep into extra time, Tielemans stepped up with ice in his veins. He placed his spot-kick into the top right corner at 120+5', sending Diaw the wrong way and putting Belgium ahead for the first time in the entire contest.

Earlier in the match Tielemans had efforts blocked and one shot fly over the bar under pressure, yet he kept pushing forward. His brace secured Belgium's passage to the quarter-finals and marked a match-defining captain's performance when his team needed him most.

Romelu Lukaku (Belgium)

Introduced at half-time for the ineffective Charles De Ketelaere, Lukaku immediately provided the physical presence Belgium had lacked. His hold-up play gave teammates an outlet they had desperately missed during a first half in which Senegal dominated territorially and on the scoreboard.

The striker scored the crucial 86th-minute goal that started Belgium's comeback, anticipating Thomas Meunier's cross from the right and finishing with a first-time right-footed shot past Diaw. That strike reduced the deficit to 2-1 and ignited the frantic final stages.

Lukaku's ability to retain possession under pressure and bring others into play proved vital as Belgium chased the game. His goal and overall contribution vindicated Rudi Garcia's decision to hold him in reserve initially before deploying him as the decisive tactical adjustment.

Loser

Mory Diaw (Senegal)

Deputising for injured first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Diaw's error at the critical moment proved costly for Senegal. On Tielemans' 89th-minute equaliser, he came off his line poorly and left his goal exposed, allowing the header to find the net and shift all momentum to Belgium.

Diaw had made several important saves earlier, denying Maxim De Cuyper's curling effort with an outstretched hand and stopping shots from Leandro Trossard and Kevin De Bruyne. Those contributions kept Senegal's two-goal lead intact for long periods.

Yet the positioning mistake at 2-1 changed everything. With Senegal just minutes from a quarter-final berth, Diaw's misjudgement handed Belgium the lifeline they needed. He then watched Tielemans' penalty fly past him into the top corner, ending Senegal's World Cup in agonising circumstances.