It was an eventful afternoon for the Aston Villa midfielder, who scored twice, and had to be separated from Leandro Trossard during the second half in what, until the 85th minute, was a hugely frustrating day for the Red Devils.
But two goals in three minutes, one from Romelu Lukaku and the second from Tielemans, helped them to extra time before he wrapped it up with a penalty after he had been fouled by Lamine Camara for the referee to point to the spot - after a VAR intervention.
It was the latest goal in World Cup history.
Speaking after the game, Tielemans told Flashscore and assorted media: “Being part of this comeback is a proud moment because I scored the last two goals.
“I’m very proud of that and to bring us over the line.”
Trossard and Tielemans’ altercation threatened to derail any Belgium comeback, with the captain gesticulating furiously at his number 10 after another play broke down. A hydration break gave both a moment to cool off, before they combined for their team’s leveller in the 89th minute.
The win means Belgium will now stay in Seattle for another five days, as they wait to see whether they will take on co-hosts USA or Bosnia & Herzegovina for a place in the quarter-finals.
It means there is no extra travel for Tielemans and his teammates, something that could be an advantage moving forward.
He explained: “We’re very happy to stay here to avoid a lot of travelling as well, which in the end can make a difference.”
Check out analysis from the game with Flashscore.
FIFA World Cup 2026
The 2026 World Cup is taking place from June 11th to July 19th in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament features 48 national teams and is played at 16 modern stadiums.
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