Youri Tielemans scored an extra-time penalty winner for Belgium to complete a dramatic 3-2 win over Senegal in the last 32 of the World Cup.
Goals from Sunderland’s Habib Diarra and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr saw Belgium trail 2-0 in the 86th minute.
But Belgium substitute Romelu Lukaku and midfielder Tielemans scored twice in the space of three minutes to send the game into extra time.
Penalties were close before Tielemans was brought down by a challenge from Lamine Camara in the 117th minute, and the referee waved the ball off after a seven-minute VAR review.
He continued to speak ITV, Sky Sports Experts Roy Keane and Gary Neville disagreed with the penalty decision.
Tielemans then stepped up to score a penalty in the 125th minute, starting the last 16 match against the USA in Seattle (Tuesday, July 7 at 1am UK time).
How Belgium changed it surprisingly
Senegal deserved to be ahead at the break as Diarra headed home again in the 25th minute with Sarr’s header, which hit the side of the post.
Sarr then doubled the lead just six minutes into the second half as he latched on to a long ball that broke Belgium apart before slotting home.
Ismaila Sarr from Senegal put the African team 2-0
Belgian duo Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku were sent off in dramatic fashion in the 56th minute – and it looked like it would be 35-year-old De Bruyne’s last World Cup game.
However, Napoli team-mate and substitute midfielder Lukaku sparked a stunning comeback four minutes into normal time as he steered Belgium’s first shot on target.
After two minutes and 39 seconds, Tielemans scored Belgium’s second goal directly from the ball placed by Leandro Trossard against Senegal.
Just 20 minutes earlier, the two had been level at half-time, but that frustration turned to joy as Belgium somehow forced extra time.
Then came the extra-time controversy as VAR saw Camara’s foul on Tielemans set up Dodi Lukebakio hitting the bar, and after a lengthy pitchside review, a penalty was awarded.
In January, Senegal walked out of the Africa Cup of Nations final in protest of Morocco receiving a pack-kick and subsequently being stripped of the title.
But there were no such antics this time as Tielemans bravely dispatched Belgium with the latest goal in World Cup history, with 124 minutes and 44 seconds on the clock.
Youri Tielemans scores from the penalty spot to put Belgium ahead against Senegal
Nev and Keane feel that the penalty award is unfair
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville speaking on ITV:
“I don’t think it is a penalty that is placed on the goals in this competition.
“I don’t believe that’s a penalty. If Tielemans gets a touch on the ball and gets kicked, that’s fine.
“When VAR looked at it, and it’s been a long time since we’ve seen VAR look at an incident in this World Cup, that’s when he was the referee again in the game.
“It took him a long time [the VAR] sending a referee. The refree had been watching it for a few minutes, so he wasn’t sure.
“In the end they stumbled on a 50-50 decision.”
Referee Said Martinez checks the VAR for a penalty for Belgium against Senegal
Sky Sports Roy Keane speaking on ITV:
“It’s very difficult.
“The referee took a long time on the screen, where they usually seem to be hasty with their decisions.
“He wants to be punished by the referee’s decision, and he had doubts for a long time.”
Referee Said Martinez awarded Belgium a penalty
