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
Belgium beat Senegal on extra-time PK after VAR review
Belgium’s Youri Tielemans celebrates scoring the winning goal against Senegal on July 1. SEATTLE — Belgium followed a dramatic comeback late in regulation with a penalty kick goal from captain Youri Tielemans in the fifth minute of extra-time stoppage time to beat Senegal 3-2 in a dramatic World Cup round of 32 game on Wednesday.
With the game just minutes from heading to penalty kicks, Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara made a hard challenge in the penalty box on Tielemans. After not initially being called a foul, the play was sent for a VAR review.
The penalty kick was ultimately awarded to Tielemans, who converted it for his second goal of the game.
The matchup between Belgium and Senegal didn’t appear as though it would offer much drama until the Red Devils’ frantic comeback in the closing minutes of regulation.
Senegal’s frontline speed was the dominant theme of the first 85 minutes, with the Lions of Teranga mercilessly pressuring Belgium’s overwhelmed backline.
Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra opened the scoring in the 25th minute, easily knocking a rebound past Belgium goaltender Thibaut Courtois. The goal was set up by a cross from Sadio Mane that saw Ismaila Sarr send a difficult header off the goalpost.
Sarr, who also sent an attempt off the goalpost in the 13th minute, finally got his goal in the 51st minute. The Crystal Palace forward took a brilliant long ball from Moussa Niakhate off his chest, shielded a defender and knocked a shot past a helpless Courtois.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia, who had already brought on Romelu Lukaku at halftime, made a desperate attempt to flip the momentum by bringing off Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne in the 56th minute in favor of Nicolas Raskin and Dodi Lukebakio.
It didn’t appear to make much difference until Lukaku breathed life into the Red Devils with an 86th-minute goal.
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 goalkeeper Mory Diaw.
Belgium will now return to Seattle for a round of 16 match on July 6 against the winner of Wednesday night’s game between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
NOTES: De Bruyne made his 17th World Cup start for Belgium, but was unable to put either of his shots on target before being subbed off. … Belgium finished atop Group G, while Senegal claimed the last of eight third-place spots in the round of 32 after posting one win and two losses with a plus-two goal differential in Group I. … While Belgium used the same starting lineup from their group-stage finale, Senegal made three changes. Pathe Ciss, Iliman Ndiaye and Pape Gueye were in the starting XI with Abdoulaye Seck, Ibrahim Mbaye and Lamine Camara on the bench.
–Derek Harper, Field Level Media
Sports
Red Sox place LHP Connelly Early (elbow) on 15-day injured list
Jun 30, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Starter Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early (71) throws in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Jaiden Tripi-Imagn Images The Boston Red Sox placed starting pitcher Connelly Early on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday because of left elbow inflammation.
In other moves, the Red Sox activated left-hander Jovani Moran (elbow inflammation) from the 15-day IL, recalled lefty Alec Gamboa from Triple-A Worcester and designated right-hander Tommy Kahnle for assignment.
Early, 24, pitched on Tuesday, scattering three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over four innings before exiting in an 8-1 home loss to the Washington Nationals while experiencing left shoulder soreness.
“It’s tough,” Early said. “I thought I was throwing the ball really well. I felt really good going into the game, so just a little unfortunate thing that happened there.”
The rookie is 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA, 34 walks and 93 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings. He was scheduled for an MRI exam on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.
“Yeah, he comes out of the game. There’s soreness,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Wednesday. “He’s feeling better today, but it’s still a little sore. So with one more start remaining prior to the All-Star break — it’s not just the start right, it’s like, (are we really) going to have this guy go out in two days and throw a side? That’s not something we’re going to do with that kid.
“Connelly will tell you that he fought to not have it happen. But between that and having to use as much bullpen as we did and some of the moves we had to make to make sure we got arms, that’s an easy decision to make sure you take that out of his hands and do right by him.”
Early made his major league debut last September and is 8-7 with a 3.24 ERA, 38 walks and 122 strikeouts in 21 starts.
Boston selected Early in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Virginia.
Kahnle, 36, gave up four runs on four hits and one walk in one inning of Tuesday’s setback. He was 0-0 with an 8.00 ERA, six walks and five strikeouts in nine innings in his first season with Boston.
For his career, Kahnle is 11-19 with 17 saves and a 3.70 ERA in 464 games (all in relief) with six different teams since 2014.
Moran, 29, is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 15 walks and 38 strikeouts in 33 innings over 21 games (three starts) this season. He is a career 3-5 with one save and a 3.94 ERA in 102 games (three starts) in parts of five seasons with the Minnesota Twins (2021-23) and Red Sox (2025-present).
Gamboa, a 29-year-old rookie, did not allow a hit, run or walk while recording three strikeouts against five batters in his two games after making his major league debut with Boston on May 5.
He was 2-3 with a 3.21 ERA, eight walks and 40 strikeouts in 42 innings over 13 games (six starts) at Worcester.
–Field Level Media
Sports
U.S. star Christian Pulisic in starting lineup vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 30, 2026; San Jose, California, U.S.; Christian Pulisic of the U.S. during training. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images American star Christian Pulisic, limited by a calf injury since the national team’s World Cup opener, is in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, Calif.
It marks Pulisic’s first start since the 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the USMNT’s group-stage opener on June 12, when he injured his left calf and did not play in the second half. He missed the 2-0 victory over Australia before returning to play 33 minutes as a reserve against Turkey on June 25.
“I felt great in the last game against Turkey,” Pulisic told reporters on Tuesday. “I’m feeling good this week, and I’m definitely ready to go for tomorrow.”
With 33 international goals and 21 assists in 88 matches, the 27-year-old Pulisic is the USMNT’s active scoring leader and one of their most important players. He led the USMNT with his playmaking skills as they opened a 3-0 halftime lead against Paraguay.
The United States won their first two World Cup matches before falling 3-2 against Turkey in their final Group D contest. Now comes a test against Bosnia and Herzegovina, who went 1-1-1 in Group B play and advanced as a third-place team.
The winner will advance to the round of 16 to meet Belgium — which edged Senegal 3-2 on Wednesday — on July 6 in Seattle.
The U.S. lineup for Wednesday also includes four players who didn’t play against Turkey — midfielder Tyler Adams, forward Folarin Balogun, center back Chris Richards and left back Antonee Robinson. Each had a yellow card earlier in the tournament and a second would have led to a suspension.
Midfielder Cristian Roldan (quad) and defender Mark McKenzie (foot) are the only U.S. players sidelined by injury.
–Field Level Media
Belgium beat Senegal on extra-time PK after VAR review
Red Sox place LHP Connelly Early (elbow) on 15-day injured list
