Belgium brought the United States’ World Cup party to a shattering halt on Monday, thrashing the tournament co-hosts 4-1 to set up a quarterfinal showdown with Spain, SuperSport reports.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken punished a goalkeeping howler, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a fourth to settle a last-16 clash that had been overshadowed by the pre-match uproar surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun.
Balogun, named in US coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting line-up after FIFA suspended a one-game ban following lobbying by US President Donald Trump, was largely anonymous throughout Monday’s knockout tie at Seattle’s Lumen Field.
Instead, a rampant Belgium ruthlessly dismantled the USA’s hopes of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final in 24 years, in a bitterly disappointing end to a campaign that had captivated the host nation.
De Ketelaere fired Belgium ahead after nine minutes, and although Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick leveled it in the 31st-minute, the US fightback was shortlived.
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De Ketelaere headed Belgium back in front in the 33rd minute, and Vanaken made it 3-1 in the 57th minute after a dreadful blunder by US goalkeeper Matt Freese, who was dispossessed after charging out of his penalty area to clear.
Veteran striker Lukaku piled on the misery with a fourth in stoppage time.
The defeat capped a tumultuous 24 hours for the World Cup co-hosts, who were lifted by FIFA’s shock reprieve of Balogun on Sunday — a decision which brought widespread condemnation across the football world.
