Sports
Belgium rally to stun Senegal on extra-time PK after VAR review
Belgium’s Youri Tielemans celebrates scoring the game-winning goal against Senegal on July 1, 2026. SEATTLE — Belgium will extend their stay in the Pacific Northwest following the latest dramatic ending in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.
Trailing by multiple goals to Senegal with five minutes remaining in regulation at Seattle Stadium on Wednesday, the Red Devils furiously rallied to tie the game. Later in extra time, just moments from the game going to decisive penalty kicks, Belgium captain Youri Tielemans drilled home the game-winning goal on a PK awarded following a VAR review.
Belgium still needed to survive a final free kick from just outside their penalty box on the final play of the game, but in the end they advanced to the round of 16 with a 3-2 win.
It sets up a potential showdown against the United States back in Seattle on Monday. The USMNT play their round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco on Wednesday night.
“Now we must recuperate, recuperate, recuperate, because it is hard on the legs,” Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said. “In extra time it’s like two boxers, we kept fighting and fighting.”
Whoever the next opponent ultimately is, it will come in familiar surroundings. Belgium’s World Cup base camp is just a few miles down the road at the Sounders FC Performance Center, and the Red Devils opened their World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Egypt in another dramatic game.
“I believe in the quality of this side,” Garcia said. “It’s not the best of all time, but tonight we wrote history.”
Senegal dominated the first 85 minutes of the match, with the Lions of Teranga mercilessly pressuring Belgium’s overwhelmed backline. After Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a diving attempt to thwart an early attempt, Senegal opened the scoring on a rebound by Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra in the 25th minute.
Senegal made it 2-0 in the 51st minute on an outstanding goal by Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr, who took a long ball from Moussa Niakhate off his chest, shielded a defender and knocked his shot past a helpless Courtois.
Belgium appeared headed for a World Cup exit with little in the way of a threat on Senegal goalie Mory Diaw. Garcia brought Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku on at halftime and later subbed off Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne.
Garcia urged his players during the second half hydration break to try to find one goal and then “anything can happen.” And it did when Lukaku found the back of the net with an 86th-minute goal.
With their World Cup hopes resuscitated, Belgium continued to press. Tielemans scored his first goal of the game just three minutes later when he fought through a pair of Senegal defenders to head a ball past Diaw, who had ventured out of his goal.
That set the stage for a dramatic ending for the sellout crowd of 66,925.
Extra time remained scoreless, with Belgium’s Dodi Lukebakio sending a solid look over the goal in the 109th minute. That was after the ball had passed by Tielemans, who went down on a tackle by Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara.
Referee Said Martinez was alerted to a VAR review, and several minutes later returned with the decision that a penalty kick had been awarded. Lukaku initially had the ball, before handing it to the Red Devils captain.
Tielemans, who had made one of two previous career penalty kicks for the national team, calmly drilled it into the upper right-hand corner for the game-winning goal.
“This Senegal side is one of the best teams in the tournament. Technically, physically and tactically, it was really tough,” Lukaku said. “But when we stepped up the intensity of our pressing, when we were there for the second ball, our team spirit shone through and we won the match.”
Garcia, who called Senegal the best African team in the tournament, said the penalty call was “justified.” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw was also asked multiple times for his opinion, but declined to offer one.
“Some people said there should not be (a foul given),” Thiaw said. “I do not want to interpret the referee’s decision. There’s always room for interpretation. I’d rather not comment on him. I’d rather not comment at all.”
Thiaw acknowledged that his team did not recover its energy after Belgium scored late in regulation, and that the loss marked a “cruel” end to his team’s World Cup.
“A football match is not an 85-minute one,” Thiaw said. “Belgium came back and we were not able to handle that.
“Football is a cruel sport. It’s not easy for me, it’s not easy for the players. I feel like they gave it their all. They wanted it for their country, but it did not work out.”
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
Sports
Report: All-Star G Norman Powell agrees to 2-year deal with Bulls
Mar 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Heat guard Norman Powell (24) looks to pass beside Cleveland Cavaliers guard Keon Ellis (14) in the third quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images The Chicago Bulls and free-agent guard Norman Powell have agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal, ESPN reported Wednesday.
Powell averaged 21.7 points and 3.5 rebounds during an All-Star campaign last season for the Miami Heat.
That was Powell’s lone season in Miami after being obtained from the Los Angeles Clippers prior to the campaign. Powell averaged 21.8 points during his final season with the Clippers. He spent parts of four seasons with the team.
Powell, 33, also played for the Toronto Raptors (2015-21) and Portland Trail Blazers (2021-22) and has career averages of 14.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 675 games (312 starts).
Powell has made 1,215 career 3-pointers at a 39.6% clip.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Spurs add veteran Tobias Harris on 2-year deal
May 15, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the second half in game six of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images The San Antonio Spurs signed free-agent veteran forward Tobias Harris to a two-year, $31 million contract on Wednesday, according to an ESPN report.
Harris, 33, is entering his 16th NBA season. He spent the last two seasons in a second stint with the Detroit Pistons, contributing to their first two playoff appearances since 2019, including the Eastern Conference’s top seed this past season.
He averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 63 regular-season games (all starts) last season before ramping up his play in the postseason with 18.1 points and 7.2 boards per game.
Harris has career averages of 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 1,033 games (913 starts) with the Milwaukee Bucks (2011-13), Orlando Magic (2013-16), Pistons (2016-18, 24-26), Los Angeles Clippers (2018-19) and Philadelphia 76ers (2019-24).
–Field Level Media
Sports
John Deere Classic special to many pros despite place on schedule
Apr 9, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Zach Johnson tees off on the fifth hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images The John Deere Classic has been a fixture on the PGA Tour since 1971 and sponsored by the tractor manufacturer since 1999.
While the likes of Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau have earned their maiden PGA victories here, the event doesn’t command the strongest fields these days as many players take time off around the Fourth of July. That leaves it as a likely candidate for the tour’s future “Challenger Series,” a second tier of events that would be closed off from top-tier players like Spieth.
For now, the John Deere still holds a special place on the calendar for many tour pros as TPC Deere Run gets set to host the 2026 edition starting Thursday in Silvis, Ill.
Spieth won his first PGA Tour title at the John Deere in 2013, when he was just 19 years old. He claimed the trophy again in 2015. The three-time major champion noted the unfortunate wrinkle of the tour’s new format, beginning in 2028, where players who win on the Challenger Series will likely be promoted to the more prestigious Championship Series and not be able to defend their titles.
“That is probably one of the stranger parts of the whole situation because most of the time guys go back to try to defend their titles,” Spieth said. “It’s definitely something that it’s almost like an unofficial job that you have in a way. … I would say for the most part if you do win, you’re most likely not going to be back at a Track 2 event.”
Spieth is one of just eight players ranked top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking playing this week. Chris Gotterup and Ben Griffin are the highest at Nos. 13 and 18.
They’ll play a par-71, 7,327-yard track that can produce low scores, including the tournament record of 28-under 256 set by Davis Thompson two years ago. Organizers lengthened the par-4 fourth hole by some 40 yards after a nearly 100-year-old tree in the middle of the fairway had to be removed.
“That tree, it’s kind of like a Dikembe Mutombo in a lot of respects,” said Zach Johnson, referring to the famed NBA shot-blocker. “It was placed strategically. Unfortunate, that was kind of the character of the hole, and maybe it had a little bit of — I’m not nostalgic or anything like that — sentimentality, but there’s something to be said on that tree on 4.”
There are few people the John Deere means more to than Johnson, who grew up in nearby Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The 2012 champion has played the event every year since 2002 and has made 17 straight cuts.
Now 50, Johnson chose to continue his appearance streak in the Quad Cities instead of playing the U.S. Senior Open.
“I am an ambassador of this company and of this tournament regardless of if I play or don’t play,” he said. “So going forward, I’ll let things fall where they fall. I mean, I love to compete here, and I’ve cherished every second of that with family, with friends, and with the people in this community. At the same time, I’m also I think old enough to understand that it’s bigger than — certainly bigger than me, but it’s bigger than any one person, and I’m OK with that.”
Brian Campbell seized the opportunity TPC Deere Run gave him last year when he shot four rounds in the 60s and defeated Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo in a playoff. It was his second win of 2025 and of his career.
“Obviously, I would love to come back every single year if I could, but I think it does us better if we think about more what’s happening this week and even this year,” Campbell said of the future rules. “… There is a lot to think about with the new changes, but we’re just excited to be here for this tournament this week.”
One player who could become the next Spieth or DeChambeau is Jackson Koivun, the longtime No. 1 amateur in the world who’ll make his professional debut this week. He earned his card through the PGA Tour University pathway.
“Obviously, the ties here are huge, and I wanted to play U.S. Open as an amateur and that kind of took RBC (Canadian Open) out of the question,” Koivun said of planning his first start. “That kind of left me with the John Deere Classic. I’m really excited to call this my pro debut.”
–Field Level Media
Report: All-Star G Norman Powell agrees to 2-year deal with Bulls
Report: Spurs add veteran Tobias Harris on 2-year deal
