.jpg?w=2400&h=1350&q=80)
FIFA World Cup
Senegal looked set for a place in the next round as they led by two goals with five minutes remaining, but Belgium produced a dramatic fightback through strikes from Romelu Lukaku and Tielemans to force extra time in Seattle.
Tielemans then held his nerve to convert a penalty in the 125th minute and send Belgium into the last 16.
The Aston Villa player faced a lengthy delay before taking the kick as Senegal players surrounded the spot, but he calmly dispatched his effort to cap an improbable turnaround.
Tielemans then held his nerve to convert a penalty in the 125th minute and send Belgium into the last 16.
The Aston Villa player faced a lengthy delay before taking the kick as Senegal players surrounded the spot, but he calmly dispatched his effort to cap an improbable turnaround.
.jpg?w=2400&q=80)
"What matters is that Youri Tielemans had the composure and the quality. And once again, we have the experience to take that kind of penalty, because it's not easy," said Garcia.
"At 2-2, in the 120th minute or even later, when you're tired, and Youri was feeling it physically, to go and score that penalty is a difficult task. He succeeded.
"As a result, he has sent us through to the round of 16. Congratulations to our captain. I think he was outstanding."
"At 2-2, in the 120th minute or even later, when you're tired, and Youri was feeling it physically, to go and score that penalty is a difficult task. He succeeded.
"As a result, he has sent us through to the round of 16. Congratulations to our captain. I think he was outstanding."
.jpg?w=2400&q=80)
Belgium will stay in Seattle to play the United States on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.
For much of the afternoon, it seemed the curtain was about to fall on the last remnants of Belgium's golden generation - Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and perhaps goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois - who helped lead the country to a third-place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Instead, a late act of defiance from the Red Devils means they live to fight another day.
For much of the afternoon, it seemed the curtain was about to fall on the last remnants of Belgium's golden generation - Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and perhaps goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois - who helped lead the country to a third-place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Instead, a late act of defiance from the Red Devils means they live to fight another day.
.jpg?w=2400&q=80)
"Going 2-0 down and then coming back to make it 2-2 gives you a huge lift, and now the journey continues," said Garcia.
"It's true that a scenario like this can bring a group even closer together.
"It can make the players realise that, until a match is over and the final whistle has blown, anything can happen - as we showed."
"It's true that a scenario like this can bring a group even closer together.
"It can make the players realise that, until a match is over and the final whistle has blown, anything can happen - as we showed."
.jpg?w=2400&q=80)
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw admitted it was a "cruel" way for his team to exit the tournament.
Habib Diarra turned in a rebound after Ismaila Sarr's header came back off the post.
Sarr then equalled Roger Milla's record for the most goals by an African player at a single FIFA World Cup with his fourth of the tournament, but a late collapse allowed Belgium to pull off an unlikely escape act.
Habib Diarra turned in a rebound after Ismaila Sarr's header came back off the post.
Sarr then equalled Roger Milla's record for the most goals by an African player at a single FIFA World Cup with his fourth of the tournament, but a late collapse allowed Belgium to pull off an unlikely escape act.
"We had the game in hand, we were leading 2-0 and we sat back a bit towards the end I think because we wanted to protect the lead," said Thiaw.
"Once we conceded for 2-1, we dropped even deeper and they got their second goal. It wasn't easy, we tried to get back on our feet, but it unfortunately didn't work out."
Sources: AFP, FIFA via Getty Images
"Once we conceded for 2-1, we dropped even deeper and they got their second goal. It wasn't easy, we tried to get back on our feet, but it unfortunately didn't work out."
Sources: AFP, FIFA via Getty Images
