The United States‘ World Cup campaign came to a crashing halt in the last 16 against Belgium today as Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in a 4-1 win overshadowed by FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend U.S. forward Folarin Balogun’s ban.
Reuters said that De Ketelaere gave Belgium the lead in the ninth minute with a simple tap-in, taking full advantage of a nervous start by the U.S.
Malik Tillman equalised in the 31st minute with a deflected free kick which wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois, but De Ketelaere restored Belgium’s lead little more than a minute later with a back-post header, Reuters said.
The U.S. played with more authority after the break until a major error from goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed substitute Hans Vanaken to score in the 57th minute, irreversibly shifting the momentum in a stunned Seattle Stadium.
Romelu Lukaku then added a fourth in added time to send U.S. fans streaming for the exits and Belgium into the quarter-finals for the third time in the last four World Cups. They will play European champions Spain in Los Angeles on Friday.
Reuters said that the build-up was dominated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s unprecedented intervention before Balogun’s one-match ban for a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina was suspended, but the 25-year-old could barely get into the game.
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