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
Breanna Stewart's season-high 36 leads Liberty past league-best Lynx
Jul 3, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (35) posts up against Minnesota Lynx forward Natasha Howard (1) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images All-Star starter Breanna Stewart scored a season-high 36 points as the host New York Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx 99-86 on Friday night.
New York (13-8) got good support from Sabrina Ionescu (17 points, six assists), Jonquel Jones (14 points, a game-high 15 rebounds and five assists), rookie Pauline Astier (14 points, six assists) and Leonie Fiebich (13 points, four assists).
The Lynx, who still have the best record in the WNBA at 15-5, were led by Rookie of the Year front-runner Olivia Miles, who had 14 points — all but two before halftime — and five assists. Miles and teammate Natasha Howard were also named All-Star starters on Thursday.
However, Howard was held to seven points on 3-for-10 shooting.
The Lynx – who are tied with Las Vegas for the best road record in the league at 9-2 – also got 18 points from Kayla McBride and 16 points from Courtney Williams.
New York led 26-22 after a first quarter that featured 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting by Stewart. The Liberty missed their first four shots and then made 11 in a row, leading by as many as 12 points. The Lynx did well to stay close given the Liberty making 61.1% of their first-quarter field goals.
Midway through the second quarter, Minnesota took a 40-39 lead on two Miles free throws before the Liberty closed the quarter on a 13-2 run to take a 59-49 advantage into halftime.
Stewart scored 18 first-half points, while Miles had 12 points and five assists. New York shot 64.7% from the floor. Minnesota shot 40.9% but stayed in the game by outscoring New York 13-5 on second-chance points behind eight offensive rebounds.
In the third quarter, Stewart scored 11 points as New York stretched its lead to 78-65. Miles was held to two points in the third.
New York added to its lead midway through the fourth, going up 85-68, and the Liberty cruised from there.
For the game, New York shot 58.1% to 40% for Minnesota.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Adam Sandler officiates Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift wedding in New York
May 23, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce react during game three of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images The celebrity wedding of the decade took place on Friday when Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce married pop superstar Taylor Swift at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The officiant was actor Adam Sandler, a friend of the couple.
The best man was Travis Kelce’s brother, Jason Kelce, a former Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro center. Taylor Swift’s brother, Austin Swift, was her “man of honor,” according to a press release from Swift’s representatives, who noted that the ceremony featured no bridesmaids nor groomsmen.
The video boards outside the arena read “JUST&T MARRIED!” following the ceremony, which reportedly was attended by around 1,000 guests.
According to People, among those believed to have been at the nuptials were Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, Ed Sheeran, Miranda Lambert, Hugh Grant, Zoe Kravitz, Jason Sudeikis, Jimmy Fallon, Tommy Hilfiger and Selena Gomez.
The couple got engaged in August 2025, and news recently broke that they would be taking over the home venue of the newly crowned NBA champion New York Knicks for the wedding.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Daylen Lile, Luis Garcia Jr. homer twice as Nationals top Pirates
Jul 3, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. (2) celebrates with shortstop CJ Abrams (5) after hitting a home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images Luis Garcia Jr. and Daylen Lile each belted two home runs to lead the Washington Nationals to a 9-5 home win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.
Lile also doubled and drove in four runs and Garcia had three RBIs. Jose Tena hit a two-run homer and James Wood had a double, a triple and scored a run for Washington.
Bryan Reynolds doubled, homered and drove in two runs while Esmerlyn Valdez was 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI for the Pirates.
With one out in the first, Garcia lined his 17th homer of the season to right field.
An inning later, Lile hit a solo shot to center, giving the Nationals a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Reynolds homered with two outs on a 2-0 count to trim the Nationals’ lead to 2-1.
Washington answered in the bottom of the inning, extending its lead to 5-1. Wood led off with a triple into the right field corner and scored on Tena’s two-run bomb.
CJ Abrams followed with a single, and after Dylan Crews lined out, stole second. Lile’s RBI double knocked in Abrams.
Jake Mangum’s two-out liner in the fourth knocked off Washington starter Foster Griffin’s glove. But second baseman Nasim Nunez charged in, barehanded the ball and threw out Mangum with a sidearm toss to first.
The Pirates loaded the bases in the seventh. After Jared Triolo doubled with two outs and stole third, Konnor Griffin and Brandon Lowe drew walks off reliever Justin Lawrence. The Nationals brought in Clayton Beeter from the bullpen, and he struck out Reynolds to escape the jam.
In the bottom of the seventh, Garcia made it 7-1 with his 18th homer of the season, a two-run blast to right.
Lile stretched Washington’s lead to 9-1 with his second homer of the game, a two-run blast in the eighth.
Lowe, Reynolds, Valdez and Nick Gonzales each drove in a run with doubles in the ninth for Pittsburgh.
Griffin (9-2) allowed one run on four hits while walking one and fanning two in five innings for Washington.
Pirates starter Mitch Keller (6-6) yielded five runs on eight hits over six innings. He walked none and struck out one.
–Field Level Media
Breanna Stewart's season-high 36 leads Liberty past league-best Lynx
Adam Sandler officiates Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift wedding in New York
