The United States’ hopes of a deep World Cup run at home ended when Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and assisted another goal, helping Belgium expose the Americans’ defensive liabilities in a 4-1 win today that earned a quarterfinal berth.
While the US was boosted by the presence of star forward Folarin Balogun, whose one-game red-card suspension was controversially lifted by FIFA, American defenders were at fault in a pair of first-half goals and a gaffe by goalkeeper Matt Freese gave the Red Devils a third early in the second half.
Second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku added Belgium's final goal in the third minute of stoppage time. The Red Devils advanced to meet Spain at Inglewood, California, on Friday.
Malik Tillman tied the score 1-1 midway through the first half with his second free kick goal of the tournament, via a large deflection, but the Americans conceded just 61 seconds after the ensuing kickoff. US coach Mauricio Pochettino showed his frustration by kicking a rack in front of the bench, sending four water bottles flying.
American star Christian Pulisic could only watch from the bench after injuring his right foot when he hit a boot of Belgium captain Youri Tielemans with a 52nd-minute shot attempt. Pulisic was replaced seven minutes later.
After winning three games in a World Cup for the first time in this expanded 48-nation tournament, USA failed in its quest to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002 and lost to Belgium for the seventh straight time since a victory at the initial tournament in 1930.
The Americans have dropped 11 of their last 12 games against European opponents, winning only their round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
A heralded generation led by Pulisic, Westin McKennie and Tyler Adams only partially accomplished their goal of lifting football’s stature closer to that of the NFL, MLB and the NBA.
De Ketelaere put Belgium ahead in the eighth minute, the first time in this year’s World Cup the USA conceded first.
Tillman’s goal in the 31st minute energised a largely red-white-and-blue crowd of 66,925 at Lumen Field, but De Ketelaere dampened that and assisted Hans Vanaken’s 57th-minute goal after Freese lost control of the ball in front of his net.
All six CONCACAF nations have now been eliminated, with the co-hosts USA, Mexico and Canada all falling in the round of 16. All quarterfinalists will all come from Europe, South America and Africa, reinforcing the weakness of CONCACAF and Asia.
Belgium, which left stars Jérémy Doku and Kevin DeBruyne on the bench, pressed from the start and exposed a defence that was regarded as the Americans’ weak spot.
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