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

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

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