Old wounds opened up for Senegal as Tielemans inspires Belgium in wild comeback

This is the list of teams that have beaten Belgium to end their tournaments early since 2014, the fabled ‘golden generation’ who have never lived up to expectation.

On Wednesday in Seattle, it looked like the same old story. Finding themselves 2-0 down with just four minutes to play, the ‘old guard’ of Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne looked destined for more heartbreak. 

We had all written the obituaries. This was it, the last dance of a team that never fulfilled its potential. Too slow, too passive, we had written. The players were arguing amongst each themselves on the pitch; it was done, it was over.

How wrong we were.

Senegal fell apart in a three-minute burst of drama that saw Lukaku and Youri Tielemans net to take it to extra time, where more drama awaited.

Lamine Camara brought down Tielemans in the box as the ball flashed inside. On the field, the referee didn't give it, but VAR intervened. It was rightly given, the correct decision was made, and Tielemans made no mistake with the spot-kick to score the latest goal in World Cup history, despite some heavy gamemanship from Pathe Ciss. He lay on the penalty spot for minutes after being nudged in the chest, a cynical play to waste time.

Ultimately, this is more about Senegal's implosion than a rebirth of Belgium, but their old guard still have something more to give at this World Cup.

Lukaku makes the difference

Lukaku was the lynchpin. Brought on at half-time, his hold-up work was exemplary as he became the focal point for his side.

His goal got the ball rolling before Tielemans took over.

Senegal were excellent for 85 minutes. Goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr, his fiery explosion of a shot, had put them well in control. Pape Thiaw’s defensive shape was disciplined until the 86th minute, but he will be disappointed that his side felt the need to sit back and allow Belgium to gather momentum towards the end of the second half, ultimately punishing them with those quick-fire goals.

For much of this contest, this was a story of Belgium’s stars fading on the biggest stage.

Kevin De Bruyne, who turned 35 on Sunday, looked like the shadow of his previous self. Unable to make those dynamic runs in behind, he struggled to make an impact. Aside from the odd raking pass to the wings, he looked off the pace, removed in the 55th minute to scant applause. The next World Cup in 2030 feels a bridge too far for the talismanic playmaker, but he will get at least one more chance to shine again at this tournament.

The same can be said for Thibaut Courtois in goal. Ever the reliable hands at the back, he should have been punished for a flap early on, only for Sarr to miss the guilt-edged chance. There wasn’t much he could do about the goals conceded, but the imposing nature of his goalkeeping was missing.

Despite that, they were able to get over the line because of their captain, Tielemans.

History repeats itself

Senegal would have been dreaming of a first knockout win at the World Cup since 2002, and for much of this game, they were in the box seat.

But, sitting back and allowing Belgium to find their rhythm came back to bite them.

However, it will be the penalty that will haunt them more. A similar incident happened in the AFCON final back in January, seeing the majority of the side walk off the pitch in protest after they felt the call from the referee was wrong on a contentious penalty.

Ultimately, they won that in extra time, only for CAF to overrule the final and hand it to Morocco because of their actions.

They still claim they are the official champions of that tournament, and it felt, at one point, that we could get a similar outcome today. This time, they stayed on the pitch, only for Ciss to crouch on the spot. 

It meant we played 12 added minutes after the allotted 120, a sign of just how long that, and the VAR decision, were.

They will have to accept this result, a game that they had in their grasp before letting it slip.