Belgium Stun Senegal With Epic Comeback, Winning in Thrilling Extra Time After Overcoming Two-Goal Deficit
Belgium staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Senegal 3-2 in extra time in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 tie, extending their unbeaten run to 17 games.
The match marked the first-ever meeting between the two nations, who had both finished their group stage campaigns strongly after slow starts. Senegal took the lead when Habib Diarra scored from a rebound, following Ismaïla Sarr's header that had cannoned off the post from Sadio Mané's cross.
Senegal doubled their lead six minutes into the second half, with Sarr punishing poor Belgium defending to score his fourth goal of the tournament. However, Belgium substitute Romelu Lukaku halved the deficit with an instinctive finish, before Youri Tielemans equalized with a sensational strike.
In extra time, both teams had chances to win, but it was Tielemans who ultimately scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 125th minute, after a VAR review determined Lamine Camara had brought him down in the box. The victory sets up a last-16 tie for Belgium against the winners of the United States and Bosnia & Herzegovina, while Senegal's defeat ends their hopes of replicating their 2002 quarter-final run.
The match marked the first-ever meeting between the two nations, who had both finished their group stage campaigns strongly after slow starts. Senegal took the lead when Habib Diarra scored from a rebound, following Ismaïla Sarr's header that had cannoned off the post from Sadio Mané's cross.
Senegal doubled their lead six minutes into the second half, with Sarr punishing poor Belgium defending to score his fourth goal of the tournament. However, Belgium substitute Romelu Lukaku halved the deficit with an instinctive finish, before Youri Tielemans equalized with a sensational strike.
In extra time, both teams had chances to win, but it was Tielemans who ultimately scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 125th minute, after a VAR review determined Lamine Camara had brought him down in the box. The victory sets up a last-16 tie for Belgium against the winners of the United States and Bosnia & Herzegovina, while Senegal's defeat ends their hopes of replicating their 2002 quarter-final run.
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