Belgium's Historic Comeback: Tielemans' Late Penalty Seals Victory Over Senegal
A Record-Breaking Moment in FIFA World Cup History
In a thrilling encounter, Youri Tielemans scored a decisive penalty in the 124th minute and 44th second, setting a new record for the latest goal ever scored in FIFA World Cup history. This remarkable feat helped Belgium stage a stunning comeback to defeat Senegal 3-2 after extra time during their Round of 32 match on Wednesday (Local Time).
The Dramatic Turn of Events
The former Leicester City midfielder successfully converted the penalty following a VAR review that confirmed a foul by Lamine Camara on Tielemans. This victory not only marked one of the most dramatic moments of the tournament but also rewrote the World Cup record books, as noted by Opta Analyst. Additionally, Belgium made history by being the first team to recover from a two-goal deficit in regulation time during a World Cup match, having been down 2-0 as late as the 85th minute.
Senegal's Early Dominance
Senegal appeared to be in control for a significant portion of the match. Habib Diarra opened the scoring by capitalizing on a rebound from Ismaila Sarr's shot that hit the post after a cross from Sadio Mane. Sarr then extended the lead early in the second half, finishing calmly past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after receiving a long ball. This goal marked Sarr's fourth of the tournament, tying Roger Milla's record for the most goals by an African player in a single FIFA World Cup.
Belgium's Resilient Comeback
The comeback for Belgium was ignited by substitute Romelu Lukaku, who scored from close range following a delivery from Thomas Meunier. Tielemans then equalized with a header from Leandro Trossard's cross, pushing the match into extra time before sealing the victory with his record-setting penalty. Trossard also solidified his position as the tournament's top creator, having created 16 chances, the highest of any player in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Significant Milestones and Future Matches
Despite the loss, Senegal reached a notable milestone by becoming the first African nation to score 10 goals in a single FIFA World Cup edition. Belgium's win extended their unbeaten streak to 17 matches and advanced them to the Round of 16, where they will face the winner of the match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Unfortunately, Senegal's memorable journey concluded in a heartbreaking manner.