2 Jul 2026 07:06 BST |
3 min read
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Belgium produced the greatest late escape in World Cup history to book their place in the last-16 after a 3-2 victory over Senegal.
Rudi Garcia’s side were on the verge of going home in the round of 32 after goals from Senegal duo Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr, but they rallied in the closing stages of the tie to force the match into extra-time.
Romelu Lukaku pulled a goal back in the 86th minute, before Youri Tielemans grabbed a dramatic equaliser three minutes later. The Aston Villa midfielder was then controversially adjudged to have been fouled inside the penalty area in the final minute of extra-time, and he stepped up to send Belgium through.
It was the latest that a team has ever trailed by two or more goals in regulation time and avoided defeat in World Cup history, with Senegal just minutes away from the last-16.
Tielemans then netted the latest goal ever scored in World Cup history when he converted his spot-kick after 124 minutes and 44 seconds.
It is also only the fourth time ever that a team has won a World Cup match after trailing by two or more goals. Germany have achieved the feat twice – against Hungary in 1954 and England in 1970 – while Belgium have now done it twice too, having previously stunned Japan in 2018.
Comeback complete! 🤯
Youri Tielemans scores from the penalty spot to complete the turnaround in extra time 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/7orZTm5WTt
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 1, 2026
Belgium 3-2 Senegal: What has been said?
“In football, anything is always possible as long as you believe in it,” Belgium boss Garcia said to reporters after the match.
“The strength of this squad also lies in the players who come off the bench, because you can’t get results with just 11 players.”
He added: “We know teams like that [Senegal]: they lose their tactical structure towards the end of the match.
“We knew that at 2-0 they would do everything to protect their goal, which in my opinion is a serious mistake. Remind me when we’re 2-0 up not to do that. Because when you concede a goal like they did at 2-1, the whole feel of the match changes. And then it was pretty good to score in stoppage time, from a completely justified penalty.”
Senegal manager Pape Thiaw said: “We’re out – it hurts. We must congratulate the team, who gave it their all, but unfortunately we weren’t able to hold on to our two-goal lead. We have to accept this. That’s football.”
