Tielemans Penalty Completes Belgium Comeback Against Senegal

What happened: The Guardian reports that Belgium completed a dramatic World Cup comeback against Senegal, with Youri Tielemans converting a controversial late penalty in the 122nd minute. The penalty was awarded after VAR Guillermo Pacheco Larios highlighted Lamine Kamara swiping Tielemans's left ankle before Dodi Lukébakio skimmed the crossbar.

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Match state: Belgium were in severe trouble late in normal time. According to the source, Rudi Garcia's side trailed Senegal 2-0 after 85 minutes and appeared close to elimination. Senegal's goals came from Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr. Belgium's response came in a sudden burst: Romelu Lukaku, introduced as a half-time substitute, and Tielemans scored within three minutes to take the game to extra time.

The decisive moment: With penalties described as nearly a formality, referee Saíd Martínez returned toward the centre circle and awarded Belgium the stoppage-time penalty following the VAR intervention. Tielemans then scored from the spot. The Guardian characterises the decision as controversial, and the timing made it decisive: Belgium advanced rather than facing a shootout.

Tournament impact: Belgium move into the last 16. That is the hard consequence. The psychological consequence may be just as large: they avoided joining Germany and the Netherlands among early World Cup exits, as the Guardian put it, and turned a near-exit into a knockout-round survival story. For a side under pressure, a comeback from 2-0 down after 85 minutes can quickly become a reference point inside the squad.

Why it matters: This was not a routine recovery. Belgium needed a substitute impact from Lukaku, a late Tielemans goal in normal time, and then a VAR-influenced penalty deep in extra time. That mix makes the result powerful but also complicated. Belgium showed resilience, yet the narrow margin and late controversy mean the performance will still invite scrutiny.

What to watch: The next round will test whether Belgium's comeback was a turning point or a warning. Garcia's use of Lukaku at half-time clearly mattered in the match as reported, and Tielemans became central both before and during the decisive penalty sequence. Senegal, meanwhile, are left with the harshest version of a knockout exit: ahead late, pulled back quickly, then beaten at the edge of penalties.

Confidence: Confirmed by The Guardian source: Belgium trailed Senegal 2-0 after 85 minutes, Lukaku and Tielemans scored to force extra time, and Tielemans converted a controversial 122nd-minute penalty after VAR review to send Belgium into the last 16. Still needing follow-up: official post-match explanations of the penalty decision and any disciplinary or injury consequences from the match.