Belgium erase 2-0 deficit, beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time to reach World Cup last 16

The comeback

For 85 minutes, Senegal controlled the round-of-32 clash at Lumen Field, holding a 2-0 lead through goals from Habib Diarra (25th minute) and Ismaïla Sarr (51st minute). Belgium had been second-best, with an altercation between captain Youri Tielemans and winger Leandro Trossard during a second-half hydration break capturing the team's frustration. Then Romelu Lukaku, on as a half-time substitute, turned in a Thomas Meunier cross in the 86th minute. Only 160 seconds later, Tielemans headed in Trossard's cross to level at 2-2 and force extra time.

Senegal's heartbreak

The Lions of Teranga were minutes from becoming the second African team to reach the round of 16, after Morocco advanced on penalties against the Netherlands. Instead, they suffered a collapse that defender Krépin Diatta called a failure of their mission. Midfielder Habib Diarra said the team was devastated: "We had a good first half, but it wasn't enough. A match lasts 90 minutes, and we're devastated." Coach Pape Thiaw described the outcome as cruel, noting parallels to January's Africa Cup of Nations final, where Senegal also lost after a controversial late VAR penalty.

“We're disappointed. We had a good first half, but it wasn't enough. A match lasts 90 minutes, and we're devastated. It's very tough. I don't know what to say. When you're on the pitch, you have to give your all, and that's not what we did. We've only got ourselves to blame.”

Belgium's reaction

Coach Rudi Garcia called the victory a "remontada," referencing Barcelona's famous 2017 Champions League comeback. He said the argument between Tielemans and Trossard was a positive sign of a lively team desperate to win. Belgium's golden generation remnants, including Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois, had won only one major tournament knockout game since the 2018 World Cup. Garcia said the scenario could make the group stronger and tighter.

“Football is emotions, this evening we had plenty. When you're down 2-0 in the 83rd minute, it's never easy to come back and win the match. But this is what I said to the players at the hydration break: we had to score the third goal in the match and then anything is possible.”

What's next

Belgium will face the winner of the United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 16. Senegal, who had reached the knockout phase as one of the best third-place finishers after losing to France and Norway and beating Iraq, head home. Diatta credited Belgium for the turnaround but said Senegal should not have allowed it: "We had to win this game. These kinds of tight games in the box, we have to give everything and not give them a chance."