Veteran Belgium rally to beat Senegal and show aging squad isn't finished
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Belgium staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Senegal 3-2 in Seattle, scoring two goals in the final minutes to force extra time and ultimately winning with a penalty in the 120th minute awarded after a VAR review.
- Senegal initially led 2-0 through goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr, but Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scored late to level the match and push it into extra time, where Tielemans secured the victory with a penalty.
- Belgium coach Rudi Garcia's tactical substitutions, including removing Jérémy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne while trailing, sparked the comeback and revitalized the team despite initial doubts about their chances.
- Ismaïla Sarr emerged as one of the tournament’s standout players, moving close to becoming Africa's all-time leading World Cup scorer, though Senegal's loss ended his Golden Boot hopes.
- Belgium’s win sets up a challenging round-of-16 match against either the United States or Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the comeback highlighting Belgium's resilience but also raising questions about whether this signals a resurgence or a final flourish for their aging squad.
