\n
SEATTLE (AP) \u2014 For 85 minutes, Senegal was in the game. The African team maintained a two-goal lead and almost guaranteed a place in the round of 16 of the final tournament. world cup<\/span>. <\/p>\nIt fell apart within 5 minutes.<\/p>\n
“We were at the center of writing a beautiful page in the history of world football,” said defender Krepin Diatta. \u201cAnd we have to accept that we failed in our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Late goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans tied the score just before regulation time, with Tielemans scoring the winning goal for Belgium. 3-2 come-from-behind victory<\/span> He scored a penalty just before the end of extra time.<\/p>\nThe Teranga Lions were supposed to become the second African team to reach the round of 16 in the tournament. Morocco is one of the nine African teams. reached the knockout round<\/span>already in progress Victory in penalty shootout against the Netherlands<\/span> on monday.<\/p>\nBut now, shockingly, Senegal is on its way back home.<\/p>\n
Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra said, “It’s disappointing.” “The first half was good, but it wasn’t enough. The game lasts 90 minutes and we are beaten. It’s very tough. I don’t know what to say. When you’re on the pitch, you have to give your all and we didn’t do that. We only have ourselves to blame.”<\/p>\n
After losing to France and Norway and defeating Iraq, Senegal advanced to the World Cup finals as one of the top three. They survived one of the toughest groups in the competition and looked part of one of the strongest teams at the World Cup for most of the afternoon against Belgium. <\/p>\n
But Lukaku’s goal late on gave Belgium a breather and the Group G winners were left on life support until the referee awarded Belgium a penalty in the final moments of extra time. Senegalese players protested this decision to no avail.<\/p>\n
Diatta praised Belgium for turning the game around, but said Senegal should not have allowed it to happen.<\/p>\n
“They did their job and proved they could come back. I think the problem was on our side,” Diatta said. “We had to win this game. In a close game like this in the box, you have to give it your all and give it no chances.”<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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