Belgium turns the game around thanks to a last-minute VAR penalty

Belgium wins 3-2 after extra time against Senegal and advances to the World Cup Round of 16. Until the 85th minute, Senegal had held a 2-0 lead.

Senegal started with more momentum against an initially cautious Belgian side. Apart from a misplaced pass in the build-up by Moussa Niakhité, which allowed Leandro Trossard the first shot on goal of the match (8th minute), the West Africans controlled the game against Belgians who were at times playing very deep.

Senegal with the better start

In the 13th minute, Senegal made their first highly dangerous attempt: Sadio Mané's cross was slightly deflected, and Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois misjudged the ball. Ismaila Sarr at the far post unexpectedly inherited the ball with a practically empty net in front of him, but only hit the post.

Around the middle of the first half, it finally happened, Senegal took a deserved lead. Once again, it was Mané who delivered the cross into the box, where Sarr was victorious in an aerial duel against both Belgian central defenders. His header again hit the post, but Habib Diarra reacted quickest and put away the rebound (25th minute).

Mané had another good chance for Senegal after a one-two with Diarra (36th minute), but towards the end of the first half, Belgium slowly found their rhythm. Jérémy Doku with a deflected cross (43rd minute) and Maxim De Cuyper with a shot from distance (44th minute) both failed to beat goalkeeper Mory Diaw, meaning Senegal took their narrow and well-deserved lead into halftime.

The "Lions of Teranga" extend their lead

The second half saw a similar pattern: Senegal was more incisive, energetic, and assured on the ball. Niakhité finally had the next decisive idea deep in his own half: he launched the ball far forward, Sarr controlled the high pass and managed to fend off Arthur Theate. He then appeared alone in front of Courtois and fired the ball into the net for Senegal's 2-0 lead (51st minute).

The "Red Devils" were significantly rotated by head coach Rudi Garcia, but for a long time, they couldn't find their way back into the game. Neither Romelu Lukaku nor Dodi Lukébakio could inject new impetus into the Belgian attack. On the way to the second water break, captain Youri Tielemans and Trossard even got into a heated argument. Belgium was staggering towards a World Cup exit.

Late Comeback for the "Red Devils"

It was only in the final phase that the Belgian team showed signs of life. De Cuyper couldn't ideally control a long delivery (77th minute), and Lukébakio curled Belgium's best chance after the break, a long-range shot, just wide of the top corner (78th minute).

Timothy Castagne with a header (83rd minute) and Tielemans with a shot (84th minute) also narrowly missed the target.

Then, shortly before the end, came the shock for Senegal. The Belgians won the second ball, Meunier delivered a low cross from the right wing to the near post, and Lukaku smashed the ball into the net.

The goal to reduce the deficit came in the 85th minute. Just a little later, the second blow: Senegal goalkeeper Diaw jumped for nothing, and Tielemans headed in (89th minute), Belgium had surprisingly equalized before the end of regular time.

Last-Minute Thriller

In extra time, the Belgians took command on the field. The late equalizer weighed heavily on the Senegalese, and by then, most of the experienced players in the West African team had been substituted.

Lukébakio's shot still grazed the top of the crossbar (117th minute), but much more important was a potential foul by Camara on Tielemans.

After a lengthy video review, the referee awarded a penalty to Belgium in the very last minute, and Tielemans stepped up to take it himself. He smashed the spot-kick high into the top right corner, securing the 3-2 winning goal for Belgium (125th minute).