Since 2014, Belgium's storied 'golden generation' has faced early exits from major tournaments, and the list of teams responsible is long. On Wednesday in Seattle, it seemed like yet another chapter in this frustrating saga. The seasoned trio of Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, and Kevin De Bruyne found themselves trailing 2-0 with just four minutes on the clock, staring down the barrel of heartbreak once more.

We had all but penned their obituaries, convinced this was the final act for a team that has never quite reached its potential. Slow and passive, we thought, as tensions flared among the players on the pitch; it appeared all hope was lost.

How mistaken we were.

In a breathtaking three-minute span, Senegal crumbled as Lukaku and Youri Tielemans found the net, pushing the match into extra time, where even more excitement awaited.

Lamine Camara committed a foul on Tielemans in the box just as the ball zipped inside. Although the referee initially waved it off, VAR stepped in to correct the oversight. The decision was ultimately justified, and Tielemans confidently converted the penalty, scoring the latest goal in World Cup history despite Pathe Ciss's attempt at gamesmanship—laying on the penalty spot for minutes after a minor nudge to waste time.

This match highlighted Senegal's collapse more than it heralded a resurgence for Belgium, yet their veteran players still have much left to offer in this World Cup.

Lukaku's Impact

Lukaku was instrumental in this turnaround. Introduced at halftime, his exceptional hold-up play made him a pivotal presence for his team.

His goal was the catalyst before Tielemans took center stage.

For 85 minutes, Senegal was in control, with goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr, whose explosive shot had them firmly in the driver's seat. Pape Thiaw's defense was disciplined until the 86th minute, but he will surely regret allowing Belgium to gain momentum as the match neared its conclusion, ultimately leading to their swift succession of goals.

Throughout much of this encounter, Belgium's stars appeared to dim on the grandest stage.

Kevin De Bruyne, celebrating his 35th birthday on Sunday, looked like a shadow of his former self. Struggling to make those trademark dynamic runs, he found it challenging to influence the game. Aside from a few pinpoint passes to the wings, he seemed out of sync, and his removal in the 55th minute was met with only subdued applause. The next World Cup in 2030 feels like a distant dream for the talismanic playmaker, but he'll at least have another opportunity to shine in this tournament.

The same can be said for Thibaut Courtois, who, while a dependable presence, had a shaky start. He was fortunate not to be punished for an early mistake when Sarr squandered a golden opportunity. While he could do little about the goals conceded, his previously commanding presence was noticeably absent.

Despite these challenges, they managed to secure the win thanks to their captain, Tielemans.

History Repeats Itself

Senegal harbored dreams of achieving their first knockout stage victory at the World Cup since 2002, and for a significant portion of the match, they were well-positioned to do so.

However, their decision to sit back and allow Belgium to find their rhythm ultimately backfired.

The penalty incident will be the one that haunts them most. A similar situation unfolded during the AFCON final in January, leading to protests from the team after they believed the referee's call to be unjust. They prevailed in that match only for CAF to later strip them of the title due to their actions, handing it to Morocco instead.

Senegal still asserts their claim as the official champions of that tournament, and at one point today, it seemed we might witness a similar outcome. This time, they remained on the pitch, although Ciss's antics on the penalty spot drew attention.

The match extended into 12 added minutes after the initial 120, a clear indication of the time consumed by the VAR decision.

They will have to come to terms with this result—a game they once held firmly in their grasp, only to see it slip away.