What's happened
Belgium has rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time, with Lukaku and Tielemans scoring late to force extra time and Tielemans sealing the win from the spot in the 125th minute. The turnaround sets up a clash with the United States in Seattle.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- Belgium has shown resilience, erasing a two-goal deficit in the final minutes of regulation to force extra time.
- Youri Tielemans and Romelu Lukaku have delivered late heroics, underscoring Belgium's fight for progression.
- Martinez's post-match comments have drawn criticism and scrutiny about tactical emphasis under pressure; the coach contends his remarks referred to teams unaccustomed to holding leads.
- The win keeps Belgium undefeated in the tournament and sets up a high-profile matchup against the United States in Seattle.
- Watch for how coaches adapt under late-game pressure as the World Cup advances.
How we got here
Senegal led 2-0 with five minutes of normal time left, but Belgium fought back with Lukaku's 86th-minute goal and Tielemans' 89th-minute strike, before securing victory in extra time. The result sparks debate over tactical decisions and coaching styles after comments from Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.
Our analysis
Independent and AP News report on Belgium's comeback and Martinez's post-match remarks. AP provides additional context on the coaching clarification and Tielemans' decisive penalty in the 125th minute.
Go deeper
- Will Belgium's late surge influence their approach against the United States?
- How will Senegal regroup after this collapse and what changes might they implement next season?
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