On July 2, in a match held at Seattle Stadium in Washington state, Belgium triumphed after extra time.
Belgium, which finished third in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, had been eliminated in the group stage of the 2022 Qatar tournament. However, they have now advanced to the knockout stage and secured their first victory in this tournament.
The team mirrored their remarkable comeback from the 2018 Round of 16, where they overcame a 0-2 deficit against Japan to win 3-2, achieving a similar feat eight years later.
With their advancement confirmed, Belgium will face the winner of the U.S.-Bosnia match on July 7 at 9 a.m. at the same venue.
Senegal, which reached the quarterfinals in the 2002 World Cup, aimed for a Round of 16 appearance again after their exit in Qatar four years ago but fell short due to a lack of stamina, conceding consecutive goals.
Belgium allowed an early goal to Habib Diallo in the 24th minute and fell behind 0-2 after Ismaila Sarr scored in the 51st minute.
As the situation looked dire, Belgium made strategic substitutions to shift the momentum. They brought in veteran striker Romelu Lukaku for Charles De Ketelaere at halftime and made bold changes by substituting key midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku in the 56th minute.
After a hydration break, Belgium began to take control and finally scored in the 81st minute. Thomas Meunier delivered a cutback pass from the right side of the penalty area, which Lukaku finished with a right-footed shot.
Buoyed by their goal, Belgium equalized just three minutes later. In the 84th minute, Leandro Trossard's cross was headed in by Youri Tielemans, creating a dramatic equalizer.
The match ended 2-2 after regular time, and Belgium turned the tide in extra time. Late in the second half of extra time, Tielemans was fouled by Senegal's Lamine Camara in the penalty area, leading the referee to award a penalty kick. Tielemans calmly converted the penalty with a right-footed shot, deceiving the opposing goalkeeper to secure the victory.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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