2 hours ago Tielemans scores precocious extra-time punishment to nonstop Belgium into past 16
ByAdwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist
One minute, Senegal were cruising into the past 16 of the World Cup.
The next, they were near wondering however different imagination had slipped done their grasp.
Manager Pape Thiaw's broadside led 2018 semi-finalists Belgium 2-0 with lone 4 minutes near of mean time, aft goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr.
But aft outplaying their opponents, they someway "found a mode to suffer the game", arsenic ex-Republic of Ireland skipper Roy Keane enactment it connected ITV.
Romelu Lukaku's 86th-minute extremity sparked anticipation for Belgium and 3 minutes later, skipper Youri Tielemans headed successful an equaliser from Leandro Trossard's transverse - the brace were earlier seen having a heated statement - to unit other time.
Then came the arguable penalty, awarded for Lamine Camara's situation connected Tielemans pursuing a video adjunct referee (VAR) review, and converted by the skipper himself 125 minutes in.
It condemned Senegal to further agony, having already endured the symptom of being stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title earlier this year.
"Football is conscionable crazy. I couldn't telephone immoderate of this game," erstwhile England striker Dion Dublin told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Late drama, controversy, past and heartbreak - this last-32 necktie had everything and here, BBC Sport attempts to marque consciousness of it all.
One of World Cup's top escapes
Tielemans and Trossard spell from warring to rescuing Belgium
No broadside person rescued themselves from a presumption arsenic hopeless arsenic Belgium's successful the World Cup.
Rudi Garcia's players would person been forgiven for already contemplating an aboriginal formation location erstwhile Lukaku, the 33-year-old striker who played lone 69 minutes of nine shot past season, flicked location Thomas Meunier's transverse precocious on.
"Senegal were amended than Belgium for 70 minutes. Then Lukaku came connected and changed the momentum," said Dublin.
Three minutes later, Senegal goalkeeper Mory Diaw failed to woody with Trossard's centre and Tielemans roseate highest to caput into an bare nett to propulsion disconnected an unprecedented comeback.
It was the latest that immoderate squad person trailed by 2 oregon much goals successful regularisation time, and gone connected to debar decision astatine a World Cup.
"In football, thing is ever imaginable arsenic agelong arsenic you judge successful it," Garcia said aft his side's triumph that was sealed by Tielemans' 2nd from the spot clocked astatine 124 minutes 44 seconds - the latest extremity scored successful World Cup history.
"The spot of this squad besides lies successful the players who travel disconnected the bench, due to the fact that you can't get results with conscionable 11 players."
Perhaps it should not person travel arsenic a implicit surprise.
They are the archetypal broadside to triumph a World Cup lucifer aft trailing by 2 oregon much goals since they themselves stunned Japan successful 2018.
Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne, Meunier and Lukaku besides played successful Rostov 8 years agone erstwhile they bushed the Samurai Blue by the aforesaid people to scope the quarter-finals.
Germany are the lone broadside to antecedently execute the feat - against Hungary successful 1954 and England successful 1970.
Do Senegal person crushed to consciousness aggrieved?
Image source, Getty Images
Lamine Camara conceded a punishment for his situation connected Belgium skipper Youri Tielemans
However, that victor came successful arguable circumstances, with the punishment awarded aft a VAR cheque heavy into other time.
But portion Belgium celebrated, galore questioned whether Camara's situation warranted the punishment and besides the clip it took scope the decision.
"I genuinely don't judge that is simply a penalty," said erstwhile England defender Gary Neville connected ITV.
Keane added: "The punishment is simply a spot harsh and the referee took truthful agelong to look astatine the screen. You privation condemnation successful the referee's determination and helium was hesitating for a agelong time."
For Senegal, the scenes whitethorn person brought backmost memories of Rabat and the Afcon last successful January.
There, it was Morocco who were awarded a stoppage-time punishment pursuing a VAR cheque connected El Hadji Malick Diouf's situation connected Brahim Diaz.
Amid sensational scenes, caput manager Thiaw ushered his squad disconnected the tract - which yet proven costly for Senegal arsenic they were aboriginal stripped of the title contempt a 1-0 triumph against the hosts.
"We're retired - it hurts," Thiaw said.
"We indispensable congratulate the team, who gave it their all, but unluckily we weren't capable to clasp connected to our two-goal lead. We person to judge this. That's football."
Can Belgium's aged defender pb 1 last charge?
Image source, Getty Images
Kevin de Bruyne was replaced successful the 56th minute, the earliest helium has ever been substituted successful a World Cup match
Only Courtois, De Bruyne, Meunier, Lukaku and 37-year-old Axel Witsel stay from the Belgium broadside that finished 3rd successful 2018.
But Wednesday's comeback was grounds that the remnants of their aureate procreation could inactive play an important relation this time.
Meunier provided the transverse for Lukaku's goal, portion Courtois remains their fig one.
And though De Bruyne was withdrawn aft 58 minutes to his disposable frustration, Belgium could inactive trust connected the erstwhile Manchester City playmaker for creativity arsenic they hole for a last-16 gathering with either co-hosts United States oregon Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Lukaku, meanwhile, was not conscionable the gamechanger but besides the peacemaker arsenic team-mates Tielemans and Trossard argued with each different during the hydration interruption successful the 2nd half.
"They are astatine each other's throats and it's boiling over, which is not a bully look. Even the manager has travel crossed too," Dublin said.
They mightiness beryllium acold from perfect, but Belgium and their aged defender person shown they inactive person the prime and resilience to present astatine this World Cup.
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