The 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup saw a dramatic clash between Senegal and Belgium. Senegal controlled the match with goals from Habib Diarra in the 25th minute and Ismaila Sarr in the 51st minute. For 85 minutes, they held the advantage in their Round-of-32 match.
However, Belgium staged a late comeback. Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scored two quick goals to equalize, forcing the match into extra time. In the 125th minute, Tielemans drew a penalty. He confidently scored, securing a 3-2 victory for Belgium. This goal is noted as the latest scored in men’s World Cup history according to ESPN.
Senegal’s efforts to equalize were intense but unsuccessful, leading to a disappointing and controversial end for them. The penalty decision followed a lengthy seven-minute VAR review, causing frustration among Senegalese fans and players. Taylor Twellman, Apple TV’s lead MLS analyst, highlighted on social media that the same referee was involved in a similar controversy during the England and Ghana group-stage match.
Soccer journalist Steve Davis discussed the implications of the high threshold for fouls established early in the tournament. He noted that such thresholds can shift unexpectedly, impacting matches like this one. He commented that the change was unfavorable to Senegal.
Senegal’s manager, Pape Thiaw, refrained from openly criticizing the officiating. He expressed that interpretations of penalty decisions vary and chose not to comment on the referee’s judgment.
Belgium will face the winner between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the next round on Monday, July 6.
Leave a Reply