📞 Will Trump ring Infantino? Belgian striker stuns USA twice! | OneFootball

Rarely has a World Cup match been so heavily overshadowed beforehand by off-field controversy: the discussions surrounding the suspended red-card ban of USA striker Folarin Balogun dominated all the headlines ahead of the Round of 16 clash against Belgium.

US President Donald Trump personally confirmed that he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to inquire about the decision. “I merely asked for a review because I don’t believe it was a foul,” Trump told a group of journalists present.

His call was successful. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee, whose independence Infantino passionately defended, approved Balogun’s participation and handed him only a suspended ban. National coach Mauricio Pochettino then named his top scorer in the starting lineup.

At least for the time being, however, this measure has not paid off from the US perspective. Belgium were clearly the dominant side in the opening stages and duly took the lead through an early goal from Charles De Ketelaere (9'). 

Bad news for the USA: the Europeans’ goal was completely uncontested. So any second call from Trump to Infantino would likely have little chance of success.

Good news for the USA: a deflected free kick from Malik Tillman brought the equalizer after just under half an hour. 

Just moments later, however, it was the impressive De Ketelaere again who put Belgium back in front for the second time. In the 57th minute, Hans Vanaken finally put the game beyond doubt and made it 3-1, a seemingly decisive blow. In stoppage time, Romelu Lokako even added a fourth to make it 4-1.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

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