Youri Tielemans struck a 125th-minute penalty as Belgium remarkably rallied from two goals down and ultimately defeated Senegal 3-2 after extra time to keep alive their World Cup title hopes that had looked dead and buried.
Senegal’s Lamine Camara slid in on Tielemans as the ball flashed across the face of goal and conceded the spot-kick after a VAR review, with the Belgian picking out the top corner to complete an extraordinary comeback.
Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr had given Senegal a deserved 2-0 lead and they looked to be cruising through to the last 16 before Belgium netted twice in the final four minutes through Romelu Lukaku and Tielemans to force extra time.
Belgium now face the winner of the last-32 clash between co-hosts United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Seattle on Monday.
It was cruel on Senegal, who controlled much of the 90 minutes and also struck the woodwork twice, but could not see out the game.
They became the fourth African side to bow out in a narrow defeat in the last 32 after South Africa, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and will wonder how they managed to let this one slip away.
They were inches away from the lead early on when Ismail Jakobs’ cross from the left was only parried by Thibaut Courtois, but a stretching Sarr could only steer the loose ball onto the post.
When the African side did break the deadlock in the 25th minute it was no surprise. Sadio Mane’s cross was headed goalwards by Sarr, but his effort came off the post again. This time the loose ball fell kindly for Diarra, and he side-footed home from seven yards.
Maxim De Cuyper forced an excellent save from Senegal goalkeeper Mory Diaw with a shot that looked to be heading into the top corner as Belgium trailed at the break.
Belgium brought on Lukaku for the ineffective Charles De Ketelaere at half-time, but were soon 2-0 down. A stunning long pass from Moussa Niakhate was brilliantly controlled on the chest of Sarr, who held off two defenders before thundering the ball into the net.
Belgium struggled to create clear-cut chances until the final five minutes, and almost out of nowhere turned the game on its head by netting twice in three minutes.
First Lukaku turned the ball in at the near post from Thomas Meunier’s low cross and Leandro Trossard’s ball into the box from deep was headed into the net by Tielemans after a terrible decision from Diaw to come off his line.
Trossard and Tielemands had been involved in a heated exchange earlier in the match but it was all smiles and hugs when the equaliser went in, before Tielemans was central again in the winner – earning and converting the spot-kick.
