Youri Tielemans scored the latest winner in World Cup history as Belgium mounted an incredible comeback from two goals down to beat Senegal 3-2 and qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup on Wednesday.
Senegal appeared on course for a first win in a World Cup knockout match since their 2002 debut after taking a 2-0 lead through strikes from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr in Seattle.
However, Belgium forced extra time as Romelu Lukaku and Tielemans scored in the final five minutes, before the Aston Villa midfielder completed a remarkable turnaround by converting a penalty in the 125th minute.
“In football, anything is always possible as long as you believe in it,” said Belgium coach Rudi Garcia.
Belgium go through to a potential meeting with the United States, who face Bosnia and Herzegovina later on Wednesday, but it will be a bitterly painful pill to swallow for Senegal.
“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,” rued Senegal coach Pape Thiaw.
A defeat would surely have signalled the end of the road for the last remnants of Belgium’s golden generation – Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and perhaps Thibaut Courtois – but instead they live to fight another day.
After a 5-1 win over New Zealand that clinched top spot for Belgium in Group G, Garcia named an unchanged side with Atalanta forward Charles De Ketelaere leading the attack and Lukaku on the bench.
Thiaw made three changes to the Senegal side that thrashed Iraq 5-0, which allowed them to squeak through as the last of the eight best third-place teams.
Pape Gueye started after scoring twice as a substitute in that match, while Pathe Ciss and Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye came into the line-up.
Senegal nearly went ahead through the in-form Sarr, who hit the post after Courtois inadvertently diverted a cross into the Crystal Palace forward’s path.
The Lions of Teranga did take the lead, however, when Sarr’s header from Sadio Mane’s cross came back off the same post, with Diarra reacting quickest to turn the rebound home.
Belgium’s best chance of the half fell to Maxim De Cuyper, whose curling effort from outside the area drew an outstanding full-stretch save from Mory Diaw.
Diaw was again filling in for Edouard Mendy, who returned to Saudi Arabia for tests on a knee injury he suffered in Senegal’s second game of the tournament.
Belgium unsurprisingly turned to their all-time leading scorer at the interval, with Lukaku having already proven his value as a substitute against Egypt and New Zealand in the group phase.
But Belgium fell further behind six minutes into the second half when Sarr chested down Moussa Niakhate’s long pass over the defence before firing an emphatic finish beyond Courtois.
De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku were hauled off as Belgium appeared to be heading out, but Lukaku — limited to barely an hour’s play with Napoli this season – grabbed his team a lifeline in the 86th minute.
He swept home from a Thomas Meunier cross and, just three minutes later, Belgium were level. Diaw failed to deal with Leandro Trossard’s delivery into the box and Tielemans held off two defenders to nod into an empty net.
Belgium substitute Dodi Lukebakio clipped the crossbar late in the second period of extra time as the match appeared destined for a penalty shootout.
But there was one final twist when Tielemans went down under a challenge from Lamine Camara, prompting referee Said Martinez to award a penalty after a VAR review.
Tielemans stepped up and dispatched with aplomb to cap a stunning fightback and break Senegalese hearts.
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