World Cup: Belgium rallies past Senegal on controversial late penalty to reach Round of 16

SEATTLE — In one of the wildest finishes of the Round of 32 yet, Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time after a miraculous comeback. Though Senegal took a two-goal lead in the second half, Belgium scored goals in the 86th and 89th minutes to send the game to extra time. Though neither team was initially able to break through, Belgium was awarded a crucial, and somewhat controversial penalty in stoppage time of the second extra time period after Red Devils captain Youri Tielemans was fouled by Lamine Camara in the box. Tielemans then nailed the penalty into the upper right corner and past Senegal keeper Mory Diaw, sealing the deal on the Red Devils' wild comeback finish. TIELEMANS BURIES THE PEN AND BELGIUM TAKES THE LEAD LATE IN EXTRA TIME 😱 AN INSANE LAST FEW MINUTES OF THIS MATCH IN SEATTLE pic.twitter.com/2LjpKssmgM — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 1, 2026 Senegal did its best to try and find an equalizer in the final minutes, even getting a dangerous free kick right outside the box in the final kick of the game. But those final efforts weren't enough to keep the Lions of Teranga from going home. Belgium erased Senegal's 2-0 lead in just three minutes Though Belgium entered the game as a slight favorite, it was Senegal that controlled the first half. The Lions of Teranga had some excellent chances on goal before finally finding the back of the net: Though Ismaïler Sarr's initial header hit the post, Habib Diarra was there to score on the rebound. SENEGAL STRIKES FIRST AGAINST BELGIUM TO TAKE THE LEAD 🇸🇳 (via @FOXSports ) pic.twitter.com/SNpds3ZImK — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 1, 2026 Senegal added to that tally just a few minutes into the second half off a majestic goal from Sarr. A beautiful long ball from Moussa Niakhaté found Sarr well down the field, and the striker sprinted through three Belgian defenders before sending a perfect strike past Thibaut Courtois. SENEGAL DOUBLES ITS LEAD VS. BELGIUM 🔥 (via @FOXSports ) pic.twitter.com/1mCphDKLNo — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 1, 2026 As time wound down, the Senegalese thought that they had it, but the Belgians dashed those hopes in a miraculous three-minute span. In the 86th minute, second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku suddenly took one back for the Red Devils. LUKAKU GETS ONE BACK FOR BELGIUM WITH MINUTES TO PLAY 👀 (Via @FOXSports ) pic.twitter.com/BiVUZPnhAl — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 1, 2026 Then, in the 89th minute, Tielemans pulled Diaw off his line for a tough finish to level things just before stoppage time. BELGIUM FLIPS THIS GAME UPSIDE DOWN TO TIE IT JUST MINUTES AFTER TRAILING 2-0 😱 WHAT A TURNAROUND 🇧🇪 (via @FOXSports ) pic.twitter.com/DpSjFTwAey — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 1, 2026 Tielemans' clutch extra time penalty then gave him a crucial brace to keep Belgium's World Cup run alive in dramatic fashion. The Red Devils will now move on to the Round of 16, where they will stay in Seattle and face the winner of the match between United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This story will be updated.