Belgium rallies past Senegal on latest goal in World Cup history to reach Round of 16

SEATTLE — Down to its final last-gasp chances, Belgium came through with goals — three of them.The Red Devils overturned a two-goal deficit with two scores in the final minutes of regulation time and then added a third in the final seconds of extra time to somehow claw back into the game and beat Senegal 3-2 Wednesday in the round of 32 at the World Cup.Youri Tielemans scored the equalizing goal in the 89th minute and then converted from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time in extra time for the latest goal in World Cup history.He was fouled with only seconds to go and with a penalty shootout looming, and the referee awarded the spot kick after a video review.“I do not want to interpret the decision.

We all have different interpretations when it comes to awarding a penalty,” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw said.“I’d rather not comment, not interpreting the referee’s decision.”The win for Belgium marked the second time in the last 11 World Cups that a team trailed by two or more goals in the knockout round and advanced.

Belgium also did so in a 3-2 victory over Japan in the round of 16 at the 2018 tournament.Many of the key players from that Belgium team, which finished in third place in Russia, were instrumental to Wednesday’s victory.Striker Romelu Lukaku, who leads his nation in goals scored, came off the bench to get Belgium back into the match by scoring in the 86th minute, setting the scene for Tielemans to force extra time.“It is a cruel loss, as we were good in the game,” Thiaw said.“We had the advantage.

We were leading 2-0.However a football match is not an 85-minute one.

Belgium came back, and we were not able to deal with that … We must congratulate Belgium as they progress.”Belgium is back in the round of 16 for the third time in four tournaments.The team reached the quarterfinals in 2014 and the semifinals in 2018 but failed to get out of the group stage four years ago in Qatar.The Belgians will next face eithe...