Belgium stages incredible comeback to beat Senegal in World Cup thriller

Belgium staged a miraculous comeback to defeat Senegal 3-2 in extra time, advancing to the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup. The match, described as an "unexpected victory," saw Belgium overcome a deficit with late heroics from Youri Tielemans and Romelu Lukaku.

Tielemans emerged as the undisputed hero of the match. Just three minutes after Romelu Lukaku pulled one back in the 86th minute, Tielemans capitalized on a goalkeeping error by Mory Diaw to level the score in the final moments of regulation time. His heroics didn't end there; in extra time, he calmly converted a penalty, securing Belgium's improbable qualification.

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Quel abattage du numéro 10 des Diables Rouges. Même s’il n’a pas marqué dans ce match, l’attaquant d’Arsenal n’a cessé de provoquer et d’apporter du danger sur le but sénégalais.

Lukaku's introduction at halftime proved pivotal. His goal in the 86th minute reignited Belgium's hopes when they were trailing by two goals. This goal, his second of the tournament, marked a significant contribution from the veteran striker, proving he still possesses considerable skill despite a challenging season.

Other Belgian players also shone. Leandro Trossard, despite not scoring, was a constant threat, creating chances and troubling the Senegalese defense. His performance earned praise as he was deemed Belgium's best player of the tournament so far. For Senegal, Ismaïla Sarr scored a spectacular goal, controlling a long pass and unleashing a powerful shot, which was highlighted as the action of the match.

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L’attaquant sénégalais a signé l’action du match. Peu après la reprise (51e), le joueur de Crystal Palace, sur une sublime ouverture de Moussa Niakhaté, a parfaitement contrôlé de la poitrine entre Arthur Theate et Brandon Mechele avant de dégainer une terrible reprise du droit, d’une puissance rare, qui est venue tran