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Belgium Beat Senegal 3-2 in Dramatic World Cup Win

Published

3 months ago

July 2, 2026

Youri Tielemans’ 125th-minute penalty seals stunning extra-time comeback as Belgium overturns 2-0 deficit to reach the World Cup last 16

Belgium produced a breathtaking late turnaround on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, as Youri Tielemans converted a 125th-minute penalty to secure a 3-2 extra-time victory over Senegal and send the European side into the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

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The match at Seattle Stadium looked firmly in Senegal’s control for much of the encounter, with the African side establishing a commanding 2-0 lead and appearing on course for a famous knockout-stage triumph.

Senegal opened the scoring through Habib Diarra, who reacted quickest to a rebound after Ismaila Sarr’s header from a Sadio Mané cross struck the post.

Sarr then doubled the advantage early in the second half, finishing confidently after controlling a long pass from Moussa Niakhaté.

Belgium, however, refused to surrender what seemed like a lost cause.

Veteran striker Romelu Lukaku, introduced at half-time, sparked the comeback in the 86th minute when he finished clinically from a Thomas Meunier cross, reducing the deficit and shifting momentum firmly towards the European side.

Three minutes later, Belgium levelled the contest when Tielemans rose highest to head in a delivery from Leandro Trossard, after goalkeeper Mory Diaw failed to deal with the cross, sending the match into extra time amid rising tension and fatigue.

With both sides pushing towards a penalty shootout, the decisive moment arrived in the fifth minute of stoppage time at the end of extra time when Tielemans went down under a challenge from Lamine Camara.

Following a VAR review, referee Said Martínez awarded a penalty, a decision that proved decisive in a match defined by fine margins and late drama.

Tielemans stepped forward and calmly converted, sealing Belgium’s dramatic comeback and recording what has been described as one of the latest winning goals in World Cup knockout history.

The victory preserves Belgium’s hopes in the tournament and keeps alive the ambitions of their experienced core, including Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, all of whom played key roles in the hard-fought encounter.

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Senegal, meanwhile, were left to reflect on a painful collapse after being minutes away from one of the nation’s most significant World Cup victories since their breakthrough run in 2002.

Related Topics:Belgium featured football Senegal World Cup 2026 Youri Tielemans

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Opinion

Why Are Football Fans Expecting Trophy Haul from Man City’s 114 Breaches?

Published

16 hours ago

September 30, 2026

Mariam Balogun

By Tai Emeka Obasi,

It is exceedingly terrible for clubs operating in a league as supremely elite as the English Premier League, EPL, to fraudulently cheat themselves to massive success.

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Rules are rules, and supposedly responsible club managements should comply with them in administering a game termed the beautiful game.

Manchester City is currently in the eye of the storm for all the wrong reasons.

A whopping 115 breaches were brought against the club, with reports now indicating that an independent commission found City guilty of 114 of them.

The club, however, maintains that the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality.

Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has appealed to the fans to remain calm and faithful, insisting that the club will continue to defend its position and pursue the available legal process.

According to reports, Manchester City is expected to appeal the verdict. The sanctions have not yet been announced, and the possible consequences could include a heavy fine, points deduction, stripping of titles or even relegation.

From the available reporting, however, there is no basis for football fans to start celebrating the prospect of receiving Manchester City’s trophies.

Even if titles were eventually stripped, the relevant period under investigation is 2009 to 2018.

During that period, Manchester City won three Premier League titles, in 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18, as well as three League Cups, in 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2017/18.

That immediately puts a different complexion on the matter.

For instance, Manchester United finished runners-up to City in the 2011/12 and 2017/18 Premier League seasons, while Liverpool finished second in 2013/14.

But whether those titles would actually be reassigned to the runners-up is another matter entirely.

There is no automatic rule that says a stripped title simply moves to the team that finished second. Any such outcome would depend on the eventual sanction imposed by the relevant authorities.

The same applies to Arsenal and the League Cup. Arsenal were beaten by City in the 2018 final, but that does not mean Arsenal would automatically inherit the trophy if City were sanctioned.

Expert opinion has suggested that the eventual punishment could include a substantial financial penalty and a huge points deduction, potentially severe enough to threaten City with relegation.

But until the sanction is formally determined, nobody can say with certainty what punishment Manchester City will receive.

For Gunners fans, therefore, we should lower our expectations from City’s debacle. Even if Manchester City are eventually found guilty after the appeal process and even if they are relegated, Arsenal will not stroll to this season’s title.

Our last match against Brighton and Hove Albion is a huge warning that our squad is not as complete as it is generally acclaimed to be.