Belgium ousts U.S. men from World Cup

Belgium ended the United States men’s World Cup run Monday night, beating the Americans 4-1 in a Round of 16 match in Seattle that dashed U.S. hopes of reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.

The defeat followed weeks of rising expectations around a U.S. team playing every match on home soil and led by Mauricio Pochettino. The Americans had won three matches in the tournament — against Paraguay, Australia and Bosnia-Herzegovina — the most ever by a U.S. men’s squad at a World Cup, NPR reported. But against ninth-ranked Belgium, the U.S. fell behind early and never recovered.

Belgium pressed from the opening minutes and took the lead in the ninth minute when Charles De Ketelaere scored. The U.S. settled after a hydration break and tied the match after the half-hour mark, when Malik Tillman scored on a free kick that deflected off the head of a Belgian player. The Guardian reported it was Tillman’s second direct free-kick goal in as many matches.

The score was level only briefly. About two minutes later, De Ketelaere struck again, sending a header into the top corner to restore Belgium’s lead before halftime. On the sideline, The Guardian reported, a frustrated Pochettino kicked over water bottles.

Belgium widened the gap in the second half after a mistake by U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese. In the 56th or 57th minute, Freese came too far out while trying to deal with a long ball and lost possession, leaving the goal exposed. Hans Vanaken rolled the ball in to make it 3-1.

The Americans struggled to create dangerous chances after that. CBS News reported that Christian Pulisic was substituted because of injury, while Folarin Balogun, the team’s leading scorer at the tournament, tried to spark the attack before being taken off in stoppage time. Belgium’s defense and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois handled the U.S. chances near goal.

Romelu Lukaku scored in added time to complete the 4-1 victory and send Belgium into the quarterfinals. Belgium also knocked the United States out in the Round of 16 in 2014.

The match came after an unusual buildup involving Balogun, who had been shown a red card in the Round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. An automatic one-game suspension was expected to keep him out against Belgium, but FIFA delayed the suspension by a year, allowing him to play. NPR reported that President Donald Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to encourage a review of the red card. The Guardian described the decision as coming after lobbying from Trump and said it drew backlash from around the football world. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it would protest Balogun’s inclusion, according to NPR.

The result eliminates the United States, one of the tournament’s co-hosts, in the Round of 16. The Guardian reported that all three co-hosts — Mexico, the U.S. and Canada — have now been eliminated.

Belgium advances to face Spain on Friday in California. CBS News reported the match will be in Inglewood, with the winner moving on to a semifinal against either France or Morocco.