With a golden chance to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in 24 years — and further galvanize a nation that had embraced this team like no other time — the U.S. missed assignments, defended naively and made countless mistakes that Belgium punished with merciless efficiency.
The 4-1 loss at sold-out Lumen Field looked and felt like the Round-of-16 loss to the Netherlands four years ago in Qatar. The gap between an elite European side — even a Belgian one past its prime — and the U.S. was profound.
The Americans were in trouble from the first minute and, after drawing even on another Malik Tillman free kick, they conceded the go-ahead goal two minutes later and never fully recovered.
While Belgium will face Spain on Friday (3 p.m. ET) in the Los Angeles area, the U.S. will cherish its accomplishments — winning the group after just two matches and winning a knockout game for the first time since 2002 — but also lament its performance when the lights were brightest.
Christian Pulisic, the face of the program, did not play well before departing with a leg injury early in the second half. Folarin Balogun, the subject of controversy created by FIFA the past two days, was not much of a factor.
Winger Sergiño Dest was pulled at the half. Captain Tim Ream, who had performed well all tournament, was exposed. Goalkeeper Matt Freese’s blunder all but ended the U.S. hopes.(He was way out of goal on 3rd goal and couldn't use hands as goalie)
Trossard carried to the end line, taking two U.S. players with him. He lifted a cross into the six-yard box, where De Ketelaere timed his jump to beat Ream and nodded in the header.(De Ketelaere had 2 goals) This goal barely minute after US tied on free kick.
Balogun non factor
On a long ball over the U.S. defense, Freese came out of the box and calmly chested down the ball. With De Ketelaere pressuring from behind, Freese began to swing his left leg and stopped. Now he was in big trouble.
On Freese’s second try, the Belgian striker deflected the ball to Vanaken for a 35-yard one-timer that an off-balance Ream failed to block.
It got worse. Pulisic was forced to leave with a right leg injury, suffered moments earlier when, on a shot attempt, he kicked an opponent instead of the ball.
They beat us in friendly 5-2 in March. Not that much changed.
Beat us tonight 4-1
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