Romelu Lukaku Praises Youri Tielemans After Belgium's Thrilling World Cup Victory

Belgium Advances to Round of 16

Following Belgium's impressive victory over Senegal, star player Romelu Lukaku expressed his admiration for teammate Youri Tielemans, who played a crucial role in the match by converting a penalty that led to a remarkable comeback.

Tielemans earned the title of 'Player of the Match' after scoring during regular time and successfully converting a penalty kick, contributing to Belgium's 3-2 triumph over Senegal.

A Dramatic Turnaround

The match saw Senegal take the lead with goals from Habib Diarra in the 24th minute and Ismaila Sarr in the 51st minute, putting Belgium in a precarious position. However, Lukaku found the net in the 86th minute, followed by Tielemans scoring in the 89th minute, which pushed the game into extra time. Tielemans was awarded a penalty after a VAR review confirmed a foul by Lamine Camara, and he scored the decisive penalty in the 124th minute and 44th second, marking the latest goal ever recorded in FIFA World Cup history.

Celebrations in the Dressing Room

Lukaku, who is Belgium's top scorer, celebrated Tielemans' achievement by sharing a story on Instagram, stating, "@youritielemans you are HIM." The Belgian squad erupted in joy in the dressing room, where they celebrated with refreshments and music, led by Tielemans, who was the center of attention after his outstanding performance.

Senegal's Historic Achievement

Despite the loss, Senegal made history by becoming the first African nation to score 10 goals in a single FIFA World Cup edition.

Looking Ahead

Belgium's next challenge will be against the USA, who secured a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the round of 16 match scheduled for June 7 in Seattle.