Belgium emphatically ended the United States’ World Cup dream on Monday, sweeping aside the tournament co-hosts 4-1 to book a quarter-final showdown with Spain.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken capitalised on a costly goalkeeping error, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a late fourth as Belgium dismantled a US side whose campaign ended in bitter disappointment.
The last-16 clash at Seattle’s Lumen Field had been overshadowed by controversy after FIFA suspended the one-match ban handed to US striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to start following lobbying by US President Donald Trump.
Balogun, however, struggled to make an impact as Belgium dominated from start to finish, denying the United States a first World Cup quarter-final appearance since 2002.
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans admitted the pre-match controversy had fuelled his team’s determination.
“Let’s be honest: we held a meeting when we heard the news,” Tielemans said.
“We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch. That’s what we did today. I’m very proud of the team.”
US coach Mauricio Pochettino conceded his side had fallen well below the standards they had shown earlier in the tournament.
“Today we were not the same team that we have been during the tournament,” Pochettino said.
“It was a very bad day — it wasn’t our day in a collective and individual way.”
Belgium took the lead after just nine minutes when De Ketelaere found the net.
The United States briefly drew level through Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick in the 31st minute, but the parity lasted barely two minutes before De Ketelaere restored Belgium’s advantage with a header.
Vanaken extended the lead in the 57th minute after US goalkeeper Matt Freese charged from his area only to be dispossessed, allowing the midfielder to roll the ball into an empty net.
Lukaku completed the rout in stoppage time.
The defeat capped a turbulent 24 hours for the United States after FIFA’s decision to overturn Balogun’s suspension prompted widespread criticism.
Belgium’s football federation unsuccessfully challenged Balogun’s eligibility before kick-off.
“There was a sense of injustice within the squad,” Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin said. “We were determined to respond on the field.”
Ronaldo’s World Cup farewell
Belgium will now face Spain in Los Angeles on Friday after the European champions edged Portugal 1-0 in Arlington, Texas, in what proved to be the final World Cup match of Cristiano Ronaldo’s career.
Substitute Mikel Merino struck in the first minute of stoppage time, finishing calmly after latching onto a quickly taken free-kick to send Spain into the last eight.
The defeat brought the curtain down on Ronaldo’s sixth and final World Cup appearance.
The 41-year-old Portugal captain, who had hoped to crown his glittering career with football’s biggest prize, struggled to influence the contest as Portugal managed only two shots on target.
“It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll have time to think about the rest, to be with my family, not make rash decisions, and just get on with life,” Ronaldo said.
“That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on.”
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised his side after a hard-fought victory.
“It was a fantastic match — a final played early — and, inevitably, we had to sweat it out until the very end,” he said.
“We put in a complete performance.”
AFP
