Lammens makes six saves as Belgium beat Türkiye 2-1 and keep quarter-final hopes alive

Senne Lammens made two late stops in Izmir as Belgium came from behind to beat Türkiye in the Nations League. The display follows a difficult 4-4 draw with Aston Villa and comes days before Mauricio Pochettino takes charge at United.

Senne Lammens made six saves in Izmir on Thursday as Belgium came from behind to beat Türkiye 2-1 in the Nations League. Two of those stops came late. For a goalkeeper under pressure at Old Trafford, it was a timely performance.

Türkiye went ahead through Arda Güler. Nicolas Raskin fouled Güler on the edge of the area. Güler curled the free-kick into the top corner beyond Lammens’ dive. Belgium needed only seven minutes to draw level. Maxim De Cuyper had a hand in the build-up to the winner, and De Ketelaere finished it at close quarters. Youri Tielemans captained the side.

Lammens’ decisive moments came as Türkiye chased the game. He reacted quickly to stop Baris Yilmaz at the end of a fast Turkish counter-attack. He later made a fine save from Deniz Gul as the hosts pushed for an equaliser. The defeat was Türkiye’s fifth in a row and left them bottom of Group A1. It also spoiled Sergen Yalçın’s first competitive game as head coach.

The result sets up a decisive final round. Italy and France have 10 points each. Belgium have 9 and Türkiye have none. A win over Italy on Sunday would send Belgium through. Kick-off is at 20:45 CET.

Lammens’ place is not guaranteed. Belgium are without Thibaut Courtois for the current campaign, as he has stepped away from the national side. That leaves Lammens competing with Mike Penders, Maarten Vandevoordt and Jari De Busser. Tielemans was expected to captain the side again against Italy.

The performance contrasts with his last outing for United. In the 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on 8 November, Alysson put the ball through his legs after 60 seconds. Less than three minutes later, Lammens blocked another Alysson shot straight to Nicolas Jackson, who scored. He made three saves that day. All four goals he conceded came in the first 53 minutes. His United debut, a win over Sunderland at Old Trafford in October 2025, did end with a clean sheet. This season, that wait goes on.

A new coach will soon judge him. United sacked Michael Carrick with the club in the Premier League relegation zone. Manchester United said on 13 November that Mauricio Pochettino would become men’s head coach from 18 November. He and his staff will be free to move once their American duties end, under a deal struck with the U.S. Soccer Federation. Pochettino becomes the eighth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson left in May 2013.

His first match is at Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday 22 November, with kick-off at 4.30pm.