A seesawing classic of a contest had just ticked into the 122nd minute, penalties all but a formality, when the referee, Saíd Martínez, wandered back towards the centre circle to award Belgium a stoppage-time penalty. The VAR, Guillermo Pacheco Larios, had highlighted Lamine Kamara swiping away Youri Tielemans’s left ankle in the seconds before Dodi Lukébakio had skimmed the crossbar. For Belgium, it was a get out of jail card, Tielemans converting the spot-kick to propel Rudi Garcia’s side into the last 16. After 85 minutes, they trailed Senegal 2-0.
- Belgium trailed 2-0 after 85 minutes but rallied as substitutes Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans forced extra time.
- Rudi Garcia's substitutions changed momentum, Romelu Lukaku replaced Charles De Ketelaere and converted Thomas Meunier's cross.
- Benched impact from Dodi Lukebakio and Nico Raskin, with Raskin mediating between teammates and influencing play.
- Senegal seized early control with goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr, Sarr's chest control and finish brilliant.
Just as it seemed Belgium would join Germany and the Netherlands in the World Cup departures lounge, Garcia’s side rallied to take an entertaining game to extra time. With an early exit and second-half stoppage time looming, Romelu Lukaku, a half-time substitute, and Tielemans scored a goal apiece as Belgium struck twice in three minutes to cancel out goals by Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr.
What was the moment that flipped this match? Perhaps it was the stern words Tielemans exchanged with Leandro Trossard during the second-half drinks break? In truth, it was hard not to point towards the obvious: Garcia’s raft of substitutes, and not the ones who emptied on the pitch after Tielemans’s 89th-minute equaliser. Garcia himself was booked amid the celebrations. Lukaku replaced the ineffective Charles De Ketelaere and had a slow-burn impact, eventually making his presence felt, converting another substitute Thomas Meunier’s cross at the front post
Lukebakio also made his mark from the bench, the Benfica winger introduced in place of Jérémy Doku who flattered to deceive. Another sub, Nico Raskin, played mediator when Trossard and Tielemans took each other to task. Raskin replaced Kevin De Bruyne, who was reduced to playing cheerleader early in the second half as Belgium sought to change rhythm and encouraged his teammates at 2-1.
There was a whiff of deja vu in the buildup to Senegal’s opener midway through the first half. Sarr’s clever header from Mané’s cross cannoned against the same post but this time Diarra was on hand to send the ball past Courtois from the edge of the six-yard box. Diarra saluted the dancing Senegalese supporters in the crowd as Garcia urged calm. Seven white Belgium shirts stood on the halfway line itching to right the wrongs but things could have got worse for them after Mané exchanged passes with Diarra, only for Mané to rattle a tame shot at Courtois.
Belgium struggled to stem Senegal’s flow. Diarra shanked wide after Mané beat Timothy Castagne and a minute later Sarr put Senegal in dreamland. Niakhaté flighted a diagonal ball towards the edge of Belgium’s 18-yard box and what happened next was a thing of beauty. At first glance Sarr had a lot to do. He was prey for three Belgium defenders but, crucially, he had the run on Arthur Theate. Other players may have been crowded out but Sarr read the pass and controlled the ball on his chest before allowing the ball to bounce and smacking past Courtois with his next touch. At that point, a Belgium victory appeared most unlikely.
