The latest winning goal in World Cup history arrived in the 125th minute at Seattle’s Lumen Field, when Belgium captain Youri Tielemans drove a penalty into the top corner to complete a 3-2 victory over Senegal. The kick, awarded after a lengthy VAR review for Lamine Camara’s foul on Tielemans, triggered furious Senegalese protests—defender Pathé Ciss lay on the spot for several minutes—but the Aston Villa midfielder held his nerve to send the Red Devils into the round of 16.

For 85 minutes, Senegal had controlled the contest. Habib Diarra turned in a rebound after Ismaïla Sarr’s header struck the post in the 24th minute, and Sarr doubled the lead early in the second half with a composed finish from a long pass, his fourth goal of the tournament. Belgium, disjointed and bereft of ideas, substituted Kevin De Bruyne before the hour and saw tempers flare between Tielemans and Leandro Trossard during a hydration break, an argument quelled only by the intervention of Romelu Lukaku. The substitute striker then began the fightback, prodding in Thomas Meunier’s cross in the 86th minute. Three minutes later, Tielemans headed in Trossard’s delivery after goalkeeper Mory Diaw misjudged the flight, forcing extra time.

The comeback echoed Belgium’s 3-2 recovery from two goals down against Japan in the 2018 round of 16, a match often cited as the peak of the country’s ‘golden generation’. In Seattle, that generation’s remnants—Lukaku, De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois—again stared at elimination before a late surge. Lukaku later revealed he had declined to take the decisive penalty, telling reporters he was not mentally ready and handing the ball to Tielemans. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw called the exit ‘cruel’ and insisted his side deserved to win, while Belgian manager Rudi Garcia praised his captain’s composure. Viewed from Dakar, the defeat was a bitter end to a campaign that had promised a first quarter-final appearance; in Brussels, the result was framed as proof of enduring resilience, however unconvincing the performance.

Belgium remain in Seattle to face the winner of the United States–Bosnia and Herzegovina tie on 6 July. Senegal depart with the consolation of Sarr equalling Roger Milla’s record for the most goals by an African player at a single World Cup, but the manner of the loss will linger.