Belgium's World Cup nearly ended in the Seattle afternoon. Instead, it stretched into the record books.
A comeback, then a record
Trailing Senegal 2-0, Belgium hauled itself level late — Romelu Lukaku pulling one back and Youri Tielemans leveling minutes later to force extra time, Sky Sports reported. Senegal had led through Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr and looked to be on their way through.
The decisive moment came at the very end of extra time. After a foul on Tielemans and a lengthy video review, the referee pointed to the spot, and Tielemans converted — a goal timed at 124 minutes and 44 seconds, which Sky Sports and other broadcasters described as the latest goal ever scored in a World Cup match. Belgium won 3-2.
Controversy and a familiar next step
The penalty was not without argument; analysts differed over whether the contact warranted a spot-kick, and the video review that produced it was among the longest of the tournament. For Senegal, a promising run ended in the cruelest fashion. For Belgium — a veteran side that has often flattered to deceive at major tournaments — it was survival, and a place in the next round.
That next round carries an American subplot: Belgium advances to face the United States, as Al Jazeera noted, setting up a knockout meeting that will draw a large audience in Los Angeles and across the country after the U.S. team's own progress through the group stage. The full result and match data were carried by ESPN.
However the record is formally logged, the essential fact is simple enough: with seconds left before a likely exit, Belgium found one more goal — and it came later than any before it.
