Youri Tielemans scored a controversial last-gasp extra-time penalty winner for Belgium to complete an incredible 3-2 comeback victory against Senegal in the last 32 of the World Cup.
Goals from Sunderland’s Habib Diarra and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr saw Belgium trail 2-0 in the 86th minute.
But Belgium substitute Romelu Lukaku and midfielder Tielemans scored twice in the space of three minutes to send the game into extra time.
Belgium’s Youri Tielemans is fouled by Senegal’s Lamine Camara
Penalties loomed before Tielemans was brought down by Lamine Camara’s 117th-minute challenge, and the referee gave a spot-kick after a seven-minute VAR review.
Speaking on ITV, Sky Sports pundits Roy Keane and Gary Neville disagreed with the penalty decision.
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Tielemans then stepped up to slam home the penalty in the 125th minute, setting up a last-16 clash against either co-hosts USA or Bosnia-Herzegovina in Seattle (Tuesday, July 7 at 1am UK time).
How Belgium dramatically turned it around
Senegal were deservedly in front at half-time as Diarra rebounded home in the 25th minute from Sarr’s header, which had crashed back off the post.
Sarr then doubled the lead just six minutes into the second half as he superbly chested down a long ball which split the Belgium defence before lashing home.
Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr put the African side 2-0 up
Belgium pair Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku were surprisingly taken off in the 56th minute – and it looked like it would be 35-year-old De Bruyne’s last appearance at a World Cup.
However, his Napoli team-mate and half-time substitute Lukaku sparked an incredible comeback with four minutes of normal time remaining as he steered home Belgium’s first shot on target.
Two minutes and 39 seconds later, Tielemans headed in with Belgium’s second shot on target from Leandro Trossard’s cross to stun Senegal.
Twenty minutes earlier, the pair had been involved in a heated exchange at the hydration break, but those frustrations had turned to joy as Belgium somehow forced extra time.
Then came extra-time controversy as VAR spotted a foul by Camara on Tielemans in the build-up to Dodi Lukebakio hitting the bar, and after lengthy pitchside review, a penalty was given.
In January, Senegal walked off in the Africa Cup of Nations final in protest at Morocco being awarded a late spot-kick and were subsequently stripped of the title.
But there were no such antics this time as Tielemans nervelessly sent Belgium through with the latest goal in World Cup history, with 124 minutes and 44 seconds on the clock.
Youri Tielemans scores from the penalty spot to put Belgium ahead against Senegal
Nev and Keane feel penalty award wrong
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville speaking on ITV:
“I don’t think it’s a penalty on the bar that’s been set in this tournament.
“I genuinely don’t believe that’s a penalty. If Tielemans gets a touch on the ball and then he gets kicked, fair enough.
“The more that the VAR looked at it, and it’s the longest we’ve seen VAR look at an incident in this World Cup, the more he was re-refereeing the game.
“It took so long for him [the VAR] to send the referee over. The refree had a couple of minutes looking at it, so he wasn’t that sure.
“In the end they’ve stumbled upon a decision that is so 50-50.”
Referee Said Martinez checks the VAR for a Belgium penalty against Senegal
Sky Sports Roy Keane speaking on ITV:
“It’s very, very harsh.
“The referee took so long at the screen, when they usually seem to be a bit quicker with their decisions.
“You want conviction in the referee’s decision, and he was certainly hesitating a long time.”
Referee Said Martinez awards Belgium a penalty
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