In a thrilling match in Seattle, Belgium came from behind to defeat Senegal 3-2, securing a spot in the round of 16. Observant fans noticed a subtle detail on the back of Belgium's away jerseys: the phrase "Ceci n’est pas un maillot" ("This is not a jersey"), a reference to René Magritte's famous painting "The Treachery of Images."

The Belgian team, once a powerhouse, has been undergoing a five-year revolution that has turned them into a mediocre squad living on past ambitions. Coach Rudi Garcia's "chemistry" has not yielded the expected results.

Belgium's attack was largely ineffective throughout the match. The trio of Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku, and Leandro Trossard failed to create meaningful chances, and the disorganization culminated in a verbal altercation between Trossard and Youri Tielemans.

After halftime, Romelu Lukaku entered the field and remained invisible for long stretches. His goal against Senegal came unexpectedly from a chaotic sequence of ricochets and his powerful physique, making it 1-2.

Senegal seemed unlikely to lose this match. Leading 2-0 and controlling the game, the "Lions of Teranga" collapsed in the final ten minutes. Tielemans, having reconciled with Trossard, scored from his pass into an empty net to level the score at 2-2.

Extra time brought another psychological drama. In the final minute, Honduran referee Said Martínez awarded a penalty. Pate Siss tried to block Tielemans from taking the spot-kick, but his efforts were in vain. Tielemans converted, securing Belgium's place in the round of 16 against the United States on July 6.

Goals: Lukaku (86), Tielemans (89, 120+5) — Diarra (25), Sarr (51).

Source: www.gazeta.uz