SEATTLE — Youri Tielemans score from penalty spot for stoppage time of extra time, and Belgium come back from two goals down for the game closing minutes to beat Senegal 3-2 for Wednesday for the round of 32 for the World Cup for Seattle Stadium, wey dem dey call Lumen Field.
Tielemans dem foul am just before the end of the 30 minutes of extra time, and the referee award the penalty after video review. The converted spot kick come for the 125th minute and be the latest goal for World Cup history. The referee blow whistle small after as Belgium seal spot for the round of 16.
“I no want to interpret the decision. We all get different interpretations when e come to awarding penalty,” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw talk. “I rather no comment, no interpreting the referee decision.”
Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr give the Senegalese 2-0 lead, but Belgium substitute Romelu Lukaku get one back for the 86th minute and Tielemans equalize for the 89th. The win for Belgium mark the second time for the last 11 World Cups wey a team trail by two or more goals for the knockout round and advance. Belgium also do so for a 3-2 victory over Japan for the round of 16 for the 2018 tournament.
Many of the key players from that Belgium team, wey finish for third place for Russia, be instrumental for Wednesday victory. Striker Lukaku, wey lead his nation for goals scored, come off the bench to get Belgium back into the match by scoring for the 86th minute, setting the scene for Tielemans to force extra time.
“E be cruel loss, as we dey good for the game,” Thiaw talk. “We get the advantage. We dey lead 2-0. However, a football match no be 85-minute one. Belgium come back, and we no fit deal with that. We must congratulate Belgium as dem progress.”
Belgium dey back for the round of 16 for the third time for four tournaments. The team reach quarterfinals for 2014 and semifinals for 2018 but fail to get out of group stage four years ago for Qatar. The Belgians go next face either the United States or Bosnia-Herzegovina for Monday for Seattle.
Sarr score his fourth goal of the World Cup, and one of the most beautiful of the tournament, to give Senegal 2-0 lead for the 51st minute. He make perfect first touch off his chest on long ball from Moussa Niakhaté and then send his shot pass Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Senegal, wey dey without goalkeeper Édouard Mendy because of knee injury, take the lead on Diarra goal for the 25th minute. Courtois, wey dey play for his fourth World Cup, then make three key saves to keep Senegal from increasing its lead.
E be the second time this year wey Senegal get hit with late penalty for big game. For the Africa Cup of Nations final for January, Senegal players leave the field for stoppage time after dem get late goal ruled out before Morocco be awarded potentially game-deciding penalty. There be scuffles between rival players before Thiaw lead most of his players off the field. Dem return after about 10 minutes later and play resume with Morocco midfielder Brahim DÃaz get his penalty saved by Mendy. Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye then score the only goal for extra time, but the victory be taken away for March by the governing body of African soccer and Morocco be awarded 3-0 default victory.
Three people run onto the field and disrupt the game for the 32nd minute. Roughly a dozen security guards be deployed to get them off the field. Belgium defender Maxim De Cuyper hold onto the ball amid the incident. For the time of the interruption, Senegal dey leading Belgium 1-0 on goal by Diarra for the 25th minute. Diarra also score for the 5-0 rout of Iraq.
Senegal advance to the knockout round as one of the best third-place finishers. The African team navigate one of the toughest groups for the tournament, facing France and Erling Haaland-led Norway. Belgium win its group with five points. The Red Devils no advance out of the group stage for the last World Cup for Qatar following historic third-place finish for the 2018 tournament for Russia.
