Seattle: Tielemans’ late penalty seals Belgium’s comeback against Senegal

By Rohan Gupta — 1 July 2026 — 3 min read

Belgium’s Dramatic Turnaround

Belgium secured a dramatic victory over Senegal in a match that saw them trailing by two goals with approximately 85 minutes played. The game, which ultimately went into extra time, concluded with a late penalty conversion by Youri Tielemans, propelling Rudi Garcia’s side into the next round of the tournament.

The decisive moment arrived in the 122nd minute when a penalty was awarded to Belgium after a VAR review. The review indicated that Lamine Kamara had made contact with Tielemans’ ankle. Tielemans successfully converted the spot-kick, sealing the comeback.

Earlier in the match, Belgium found themselves in a difficult position. Senegal had established a two-goal lead, with goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr. Sarr’s goal, in particular, came after he controlled a diagonal ball on his chest and finished past Thibaut Courtois.

The initial stages of the game saw Senegal demonstrating strong momentum. Sarr had an early opportunity, hitting the post after Courtois parried a cross into his path. He was denied by the woodwork again later in the first half, but Diarra was quick to react and score from the rebound.

Despite the early enterprise from Belgium, Senegal’s defence proved strong, and they maintained their lead into half-time. The closest Belgium came to scoring in the first half was a long-range effort from Maxim De Cuyper, which necessitated a save from Mory Diaw.

Substitutions Spark Revival

Garcia made strategic changes to his lineup, which ultimately proved crucial. Romelu Lukaku was introduced at half-time, replacing Charles De Ketelaere. While Lukaku’s impact was not immediate, he eventually made his presence felt on the field.

Another significant substitution saw Dodi Lukébakio come on for Jérémy Doku. Nico Raskin also entered the game, replacing Kevin De Bruyne, who was seen encouraging his teammates from the sidelines as Belgium sought to change the rhythm of the match.

With only a few minutes remaining in regular time, Courtois made a critical save, preventing Senegal from extending their lead to three goals. Shortly after, Belgium began their comeback. Lukaku scored, converting Thomas Meunier’s cross at the near post. This goal came with approximately four minutes left in regular time.

Just three minutes later, Tielemans equalized. He connected with a cross from Leandro Trossard, heading the ball into an open net after Diaw was unable to deal with the delivery. Tielemans had reportedly indicated to Trossard exactly where to place the ball, pointing to the space behind Moussa Niakhaté.

Extra Time and Controversial Finish

The match progressed into extra time, with both teams creating opportunities. However, the decisive moment came in stoppage time of extra time. The VAR intervention highlighted a foul on Tielemans, leading to the penalty award.

Tielemans, who had previously scored the equalizer, stepped up to take the penalty. He sent Diaw the wrong way, securing a victory for Belgium. This win ensures Belgium’s progression to the last 16 of the tournament.

The match was a testament to Belgium’s resilience, as they overcame a significant deficit against a strong Senegal side. The outcome was a result of key substitutions and a late surge in performance, culminating in Tielemans’ crucial penalty kick.

Source: theguardian.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter