Tielemans' latest-ever World Cup winner completes stunning Belgium comeback

Belgium produced one of the tournament's great escapes at Lumen Field, coming from two goals down to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time and reach the Round of 16. The tie was locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes and looked set for penalties until Youri Tielemans converted a penalty at 124 minutes and 44 seconds — the latest winning goal in World Cup history. It capped a remarkable recovery for a Belgium side that had been comprehensively second best for an hour, and sent them through at the last gasp in the cruellest fashion for a brilliant Senegal.

Match summary: Senegal soar, Belgium roar back, Tielemans decides

Senegal made the running and led on 25 minutes through Habib Diarra, who pounced on the rebound after Ismaila Sarr's header had struck the post. Sarr made it 2-0 on 51 minutes with a moment of quality, chesting down a long Moussa Niakhate ball and finishing for his fourth goal of the tournament. Belgium, who had surprisingly withdrawn Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku before the hour, looked beaten — until substitute Romelu Lukaku struck on 86 minutes and Tielemans headed a leveller on 89 to force extra time. With a shootout looming, a Pape Matar Camara foul was penalised after a VAR check, and Tielemans stepped up to win it at 124:44, the last kick of the night.

History for Tielemans, heartbreak for Senegal

Tielemans' winner rewrote the record books as the latest goal ever to settle a World Cup match, a fitting flourish to a night of high drama. For Belgium it was a statement of resolve, a golden generation's successors reaching the last 16 for the third time in four tournaments after the quarter-final of 2014 and semi-final of 2018. For Senegal it was agony: two goals to the good, Sarr imperious with four goals for the tournament, they will wonder how they failed to close it out. Their exit is one of the round's cruellest, a fine side undone at the very last.

Belgium to meet USA in the Round of 16

Belgium advance to a Round of 16 tie with the United States on July 6 in Seattle, momentum firmly on their side after such a dramatic escape. The manner of it — two down, rescued late, won in the final seconds of extra time — may prove the making of their campaign. Senegal go home heartbroken, but with pride intact after a display that deserved more.