Belgium sent the United States packing from their own World Cup event on Tuesday, as Charles De Ketelaere’s two-goal performance led to a 4-1 victory, overshadowed by controversy over USA striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension.
This significant win advances Belgium to the quarter-finals against Spain, while the U.S., along with co-hosts Canada and Mexico, exit the tournament following a lackluster showing in the Round of 16.
Pre-match focus revolved on whether Balogun would start for the USA, especially after US President Donald Trump urged FIFA to reconsider the forward’s ban for a red card, a call controversially entertained by the organization.
However, Belgium’s lineup also raised eyebrows, excluding stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku. Coach Rudi Garcia’s bold strategy paid off when De Ketelaere scored early, dampening the host city’s spirits in Seattle.
Despite Malik Tillman equalizing with a free-kick, De Ketelaere quickly put Belgium ahead again. An unfortunate blunder by goalkeeper Matt Freese and a last-minute goal from Romelu Lukaku sealed the US defeat.
FIFA’s move to suspend Balogun’s ban after he was sent off in the previous round against Bosnia and Herzegovina has been slammed by football fans, pundits and players around the world, but there were no such misgivings among the Seattle crowd.
A colossal roar greeted the stadium announcement of Balogun’s name in the starting 11, vastly dwarfing the cheers even for US talisman Christian Pulisic.
The “USA” thunderclap then echoed around the stadium, utterly drowning out a small corner of chanting Belgium fans in the opening minutes.
But the US party was swiftly silenced. The majority of 67,000 fans fell silent in the ninth minute as De Ketelaere scored, easily tapping home from close range after Nicolas Raskin’s cross evaded some lax defending.
It was the first time USA had conceded the opener in this World Cup. With the atmosphere deflated, no immediate fightback was visible on the pitch either. The midfield was outgunned, and the defence looked nervous.
On the half-hour mark, Balogun drew a foul on the edge of the area and whipped the crowd back to life. He waved his arms frantically as Malik Tillman — fresh from scoring a free kick against Bosnia — lined up the ball.
Tillman’s shot deflected off the Belgian wall and spun into the net, and the stadium shook.
But the joy was again short-lived. In the 33rd minute, De Ketelaere leapt up to meet Leandro Trossard’s cross and comfortably out-jumped an off-balance Tim Ream to score his second.
USA inched back into the game as the first half closed out, with Balogun blasting over from a long Tillman throw, then narrowly failing to catch a long ball, again from the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder.
USA coach Mauricio Pochettino switched formation at half-time, sending Gio Reyna into the number 10 role and pushing Weston McKennie out to the right. The US team resumed play with more intensity, pushing higher up the pitch.
But self-inflicted disaster struck in the 57th minute. Freese came out to collect a Belgium long ball, turned to evade the charging De Ketelaere, but then hesitated with his pass.
De Ketelaere jabbed the ball to Hans Vanaken, who made no mistake with an open goal from long range.
Pulisic limped off with an injury minutes later, and with him went the US dreams of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final since 2002.
His replacement, Sebastian Berhalter, flashed an ambitious shot narrowly wide in the 79th minute, and Balogun had a close-range effort saved soon after.
But Chris Richards handed the ball to Lukaku in stoppage time, and the veteran striker did not hesitate to seal the rout.
Ronaldo’s last dance
Substitute Mikel Merino scored a late winner to put Spain in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Portugal and end Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career on Tuesday.
The European champions will face Belgium on Saturday in Los Angeles.
In front of an expectant crowd of 70,649 at the air-conditioned Dallas Stadium in Arlington, a match that promised so much on paper mostly failed to deliver.
Extra time looked certain before fellow substitute Ferran Torres slipped in Merino to settle the contest in the first minute of injury time.
It meant a sour final World Cup match for the 41-year-old Ronaldo, now playing in Saudi Arabia, having confirmed on the eve of the encounter that this would be his last dance on football’s biggest stage.
The neighbours came into the contest both unbeaten, but while Portugal had not been entirely convincing, Spain had not even conceded a goal in the tournament.
One of the pre-tournament favourites, they still haven’t.
For all their pedigree, talent and history, Spain have only lifted the World Cup once, in 2010, while Portugal’s best was third place in 1966.
In Ronaldo and Spain’s 18-year-old Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, the last-16 showdown was touted as a showcase of two extraordinary talents at opposite ends of their careers.
Spain should have been ahead with less than 10 minutes gone when Dani Olmo played in Mikel Oyarzabal but with only goalkeeper Diogo Costa to beat, he somehow pulled it well wide.
Portugal skipper Ronaldo had his first chance to add to his three goals in North America, stinging the palms of goalkeeper Unai Simón from a tight angle.
Luis de la Fuente’s Spain cranked up the pressure, Yamal and Álex Baena testing Costa twice in quick succession, the second a wonderful fingertip save.
Ronaldo — jeered and cheered in equal measure — was a marginal presence in the central attacking role he now occupies in the twilight of his career.
Portugal ended the half on top, and Roberto Martínez’s side were inches from taking the lead when Spain full-back Pedro Porro stuck out his head and directed a Nuno Mendes shot onto his own crossbar.
The winger Yamal had endured a frustrating time up against Mendes, but the Paris Saint-Germain fullback was forced off injured after 56 minutes in a blow to Portugal.
The game needed a spark and Ronaldo, well known to Spain from his time at Real Madrid, threw up his arms when a pass went astray.
Martinez made double changes on 71 and 83 minutes, but kept Ronaldo on.
And in a game that was cagey, Arsenal midfielder Merino won it at the death with a composed finish that was out of keeping with much of what went on before.
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