Controversy continued to surround Belgium’s astonishing comeback win, with debate persisting over the penalty awarded deep into stoppage time of the second half of extra time.
Belgium edged past Senegal 3-2 after extra time in a thrilling Round of 32 clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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The match was played at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, U.S., on July 2 (Korean time).
Belgium were staring at elimination after falling 2-0 behind heading into the closing minutes of normal time.
However, Romelu Lukaku pulled one back in the 41st minute before Youri Tielemans headed home the equalizer three minutes later, forcing the contest into extra time.
Late drama as Belgium win a penalty deep into Extra Time🤯⏱️ #SSFootball | #DStvFIFAWorldCup2026 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/95MSGo6zcw
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 1, 2026
The decisive controversy arrived in the dying moments of extra time. With the score locked at 2-2, Senegal attempted to dispossess Tielemans inside the penalty area during stoppage time.
Following a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the referee pointed to the spot.
Tielemans calmly converted the resulting penalty to hand Belgium a dramatic 3-2 victory.
The strike came after 124 minutes and 44 seconds, making it the latest goal ever scored in World Cup history, according to BBC.
It was a breathtaking finish, but one that immediately sparked widespread debate.
ITV pundit Gary Neville was among those who disagreed with the referee’s call after the final whistle. “I genuinely don’t think that was a penalty,” he said. “If Tielemans had touched the ball before being fouled, I could understand,” he added.
Roy Keane also expressed doubts over the decision. “The penalty was a bit harsh. The referee took too long to review the screen,” he said. “A referee’s decision must be confident. He hesitated for too long,” he pointed out.
The defeat was especially painful for Senegal. They had been in complete control with a 2-0 lead until the 40th minute of the second half, only to concede twice in the closing stages before giving away a decisive penalty in stoppage time of extra time.
Their hopes of reaching the Round of 16 disappeared in heartbreaking fashion.
Keane also aimed criticism at Senegal’s inability to see out the match, stating, “Senegal found a way to lose.” Regardless of the penalty controversy, their collapse from a two-goal advantage left them with questions to answer.
Not everyone believed the referee got it wrong. One supporter featured in BBC’s live text commentary defended the decision, saying, “Many say the penalty was harsh, but I disagree. It was a clear penalty. If it had occurred in the 5th minute of the first half, no one would have questioned it. Just because it happened in added time doesn’t make a foul not a foul.”
In the end, the referee’s verdict remained unchanged. Tielemans converted from the spot, Belgium completed the comeback, and Senegal’s World Cup journey came to an end.
Belgium recovered from two goals down to claim a memorable 3-2 victory. Lukaku ignited the comeback, while Tielemans delivered both the equalizer and the decisive winner to keep the golden generation alive for at least another match.
For Senegal, it was a devastating defeat. After controlling much of the contest, they watched victory slip away in the closing moments, with the controversial penalty awarded in the 125th minute becoming the defining talking point of the match.
