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Belgian players celebrate while Senegal collapses after an unbelievable defeat in the round of 32. |
Some defeats stem from a difference in class. Some defeats come from a moment of genius from the opponent. But Senegal's loss to Belgium in the World Cup round of 32 was a more painful kind of defeat: squandering victory when history was so close.
By the 86th minute, Senegal were leading 2-0. They played well, controlled most of the game, and threw Belgium into disarray. In the stands in Seattle, Senegalese fans had reason to think about the round of 16. On the pitch, their opponents didn't look like a team preparing for a historic comeback. Belgium at that moment looked like a falling apart unit.
But football doesn't forgive complacency, nor does it wait for a team to realize what they're losing. In just 159 seconds, Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scored two goals in quick succession, pulling Belgium back from the brink of defeat. Then, in the 125th minute, Tielemans completed the comeback with a penalty, turning Senegal's joy into a nightmare.
It wasn't just a failure. It was a collapse.
Belgium is in chaos, but not dead.
For much of the game, Belgium didn't look like they could win. They were trailing Senegal, lacked sharpness, and didn't put enough pressure on their opponents. Coach Rudi Garcia even made controversial substitutions, taking Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne off in the 56th minute.
For many, it was a sign of despair. Doku is a player capable of creating breakthroughs with his speed. De Bruyne remains a symbol of creativity in Belgian football. The fact that both left the field when their team needed a goal angered many. Doku shook his head and slowly left the pitch. Some Belgian journalists in the stands also reacted strongly.
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Senegal led 2-0 until the end of the match but were unable to protect their advantage against pressure from Belgium. |
The chaos wasn't just about tactical decisions. Leandro Trossard and Youri Tielemans had a heated argument during the second-half water break. Tielemans gesticulated wildly and shouted at his teammate. Romelu Lukaku had to intervene, while Nicolas Raskin stood between them to separate them.
But sometimes, the line between collapse and awakening is very thin. Garcia said after the match that he liked that reaction, because it showed the team was still alive, still wanted to change the situation. Belgium is no longer the golden generation that was once expected, but in a moment when everything seemed to be slipping away, they still retained the most important instinct: not giving up the game.
Garcia saw the problem with Belgium losing possession too easily. Adjustments in midfield, including the introduction of Diego Moreira, helped his team control the ball better from the middle of the second half. This didn't immediately create a clear attacking threat, but it kept Belgium in the game long enough to wait for Senegal to lose their structure.
And that time has come.
Lukaku reduced the deficit. Tielemans equalized after a mistake by goalkeeper Mory Diaw, who rushed out in the wrong direction of Trossard's cross. Just minutes before, Tielemans and Trossard had been at odds. But after that goal, they hugged, laughed, and forgot all their arguments. Football can sometimes change the mood of an entire team with just one play.
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Tielemans scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in the 125th minute. |
Belgium went from a demoralized team to a resurgent one. Senegal, once in control of their own destiny, began to feel their legs grow heavier, and the match descended into unpredictable chaos.
Senegal pays the price for playing too defensively.
What haunted Senegal the most wasn't Belgium getting stronger. It was how they retreated into their own traps when they were leading 2-0. Garcia said after the match that teams like this often lose their tactical structure towards the end of the game, and trying to defend their goal when two goals ahead is a serious mistake. That comment may be controversial, but the events on the pitch somewhat support his assessment.
Senegal came very close to victory, but as the match entered its final stages, they lost their momentum. Dropping deep to protect their lead put pressure on their defense. As stamina decreased, their formation stretched, and their finishing became less precise, their two-goal advantage was no longer as secure as it seemed.
Coach Thiaw did not blame the referee, despite the controversial penalty in extra time. He admitted that Senegal could not control the game when leading 2-0, and also said that some players had fitness issues and the team was forced to make substitutions. That was a respectable reaction, but it also exposed the truth: Senegal lacked the composure to close out the match.
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Krepin Diatta was even more blunt. He argued that Senegal lacked character and shouldn't have lost at that point. When leading 2-0 in the 84th minute, a team should control their defense and be ready to throw themselves into any situation if necessary. Senegal failed to do that.
The penalty in the final minute of extra time was the final blow. Lamine Camara tackled Tielemans inside the penalty area. VAR intervened, and referee Said Martinez changed his decision. Then, Pathe Ciss bent over the penalty spot and refused to leave, causing further disruption to the game. Tielemans ultimately coolly scored in the 125th minute, setting the latest goal in World Cup history.
When the final whistle blew, two contrasting worlds emerged. Belgium celebrated wildly. Senegal lay or knelt on the grass, barely able to stand. They had just gone through 40 minutes of madness, from the brink of paradise to the depths of despair.
Senegal has every right to regret. But in the World Cup, regret isn't enough to move forward. A team that wants to make history must know how to finish the game when opportunities arise. Senegal failed to do that. And Belgium, on a day that seemed to be falling apart, found life from that very chaos.
Source: https://znews.vn/40-phut-dien-ro-danh-sap-senegal-post1665479.html
