United States 1-4 Belgium: Co-hosts’ World Cup run comes to miserable end in the last 16 | OneFootball

Belgium sealed their place in the quarter finals of the World Cup inspired by Charles De Ketelaere’s first goals at a major tournament, bringing co-hosts the United States’ run to an abrupt end in Seattle.

Folarin Balogun’s controversial return – after FIFA suspended his one-match ban – had less impact than the Red Devils might have feared, as his Belgian counterpart scored either side of Malik Tillman’s deflected free kick to put them in the driving seat.

A calamitous error by goalkeeper Matt Freese and Romelu Lukaku’s strike from off the bench compounded a deeply frustrating day for Mauricio Pochettino and his side, who became the third and final host nation to be eliminated from the tournament.

While their 24-year wait for an appearance in the last eight goes on, Belgium begin preparations to face European champions Spain on the 10th of July.

As it happened

Belgium’s bright start saw Matt Freese keep out Timothy Castagne from range in minute one and Yuri Tielemans swing at and miss the right-back’s low ball across the box after Dodi Lukébakio found him sprinting forward on the overlap.

Quite possibly incensed by FIFA’s decision to exercise article 27 and suspend Balogun’s ban, the Red Devils took just nine minutes to find the breakthrough with De Katalaere in far too much space six yards out to tap in Nicolas Raskin’s low cross.

The crowd of defenders inside the penalty area were far too hesitant to properly clear the danger after Alex Freeman’s looping header away, having blocked Leandro Trossard’s attempted cross from level with the box on the left.

Tillman levelled out of nothing on the half-hour mark with his free kick – his country’s very first effort on goal – taking a big deflection off the head of early substitute Hans Vanaken in the wall, completely wrongfooting Thibaut Courtois.

But it was of little concern for Belgium, who restored their lead just two minutes later as De Ketelaere headed home Trossard’s deft ball floated across goal to send them into the break with a deserved lead.

The United States struggled to find the tempo and fluidity they had been playing with throughout the group stage and the 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, something that would cost them dearly approaching the hour.

Freese inexplicably attempted a pass back towards centre-back Tim Ream having ventured out of his box to collect the loose ball, which was pounced upon by De Ketelaere on the hunt for a memorable hat-trick.

Vanaken was gifted the chance to roll the ball into the empty net from 20 yards, all but ending the co-hosts dreams of a first quarter-final appearance at the World Cup finals since 2002.

Lukaku’s accurate low drive into the bottom right corner completed the rout for Belgium, who finally seemed to have lift-off after a dubious performance in the group stage – where they crashed out in 2022 – and late comeback against Senegal.

It also knocked the third and final World Cup co-host out of the tournament, alongside Mexico and Canada bowing out at the round of 16 stage.

Analysis: Surprisingly slow start and sloppy error sends co-hosts out

The United States really impressed throughout the group stage and then against Bosnia in the round of 16, mainly for this reason: they were lightning-quick out the blocks.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men began each contest with purpose, pressing high and finding space in dangerous positions in the final third.

Not today, though. That role was fulfilled by Belgium, without Jeremy Doku and Romelu Lukaku until the tie had already been decided while Kevin De Bruyne was fully rested.

USMNT registered just three shots on goal in the first half, with Malik Tillman’s set piece getting a big help via a wicked deflection to level the game against the run of play.

The less people discuss and look back on the Red Devils’ third, the better for Matt Freese. The goalkeeper will not want to rewatch his wayward pass, nor as the ball trickled over the line and his country’s dreams of reaching the quarter-finals evaporated in slow motion.

Folarin Balogun was surprisingly quiet up front after he was given the chance to feature by FIFA exercising their right to suspend his one-game ban via article 27, with the reason still not revealed.

What is now known, however, was that the ruling was prompted by a phone call between the governing body’s President Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump.

In the end, Belgium played the US at their own game, with the same intensity that got them to the knockout stages.

And it wasn’t exhibited better than by 25-year-old forward Charles De Ketelaere and Leandro Trossard out on the left wing.

Belgium will deem that retribution has been delivered upon sending the co-hosts out. They did it in poetic fashion, too, with their answer to Balogun up front bagging his first goals at a major tournament.

Spain await them in the quarter-final showdown on the 10th of July, with the chance of going beyond that stage for just the second time in their history a possibility should they carry over this standard of performance.

For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.

USA – Belgium Live Score