Belgium coach salutes Tielemans after World Cup rescue act

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia hailed captain Youri Tielemans after the midfielder's last-gasp penalty completed an astonishing 3-2 comeback victory over Senegal in the World Cup last 32 on Thursday.

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.

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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.

"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."

Belgium will stay in Seattle to play either co-hosts the United States or Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 World Cup.

Instead, a late act of defiance from the Red Devils means they live to fight another day.

"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."