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Belgium achieved one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2026 World Cup, overcoming a 0-2 deficit to defeat Senegal 3-2 in the Round of 16 this Wednesday at Lumen Field in Seattle, with the match decided in the final minute of extra time.
The reflect a clash that seemed destined to end in favor of the Africans. Habib Diarra opened the scoring in the 25th minute, and Ismaila Sarr extended the lead to 0-2 in the 51st minute, leaving the Red Devils on the brink of elimination.
The Belgian coach responded with a massive overhaul of the team at halftime: Romelu Lukaku took to the field in the 46th minute in place of De Ketelaere, and in the 56th minute, De Bruyne and Doku were substituted simultaneously for Raskin and Lukebakio. The Belgian pressure increased, but Senegal held on for over half an hour.
The comeback happened during the stoppage time of the regular period. Lukaku narrowed the gap in the 86' and Youri Tielemans equalized in the 89', forcing extra time in a stadium that experienced one of the most intense moments of the tournament.
Already in the 120 minute, with the score tied, Tielemans converted a penalty to secure the final 3-2 and Belgium's qualification to the round of 16. The midfielder was the standout performer of the night with a crucial brace.
The statistics showed a very balanced match: Belgium had 53% possession compared to Senegal's 47%, with 19 shots to 16 and five on target for each team. The Belgians committed more fouls—21 compared to 12—and received yellow cards for Mechele in the 64th minute and R. Garcia in the 90th minute, while Senegal saw a yellow card for L. Camara in the 67th minute.
Senegal entered the match as the best third place team from Group I after defeating Iraq 5-0 in the final group stage match. Ismaila Sarr, their standout player, scored three goals and provided one assist in the tournament, tying the historical record of Henri Camara as the all-time leading Senegalese scorer in a World Cup edition.
Belgium, for its part, arrived as the leader of Group G with five points after crushing New Zealand 5-1 in its last group stage match. It was the first historic matchup between both teams in a World Cup.
With this victory, Belgium moves on to the round of 16, while Senegal is eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.
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