Defensive lapses cost United States in loss to Belgium in World Cup round of 16
SEATTLE — The United States’ hopes for a deep World Cup run at home ended when Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and assisted on another goal, helping Belgium expose the Americans’ defensive liabilities in a 4-1 win Monday night that earned a quarterfinal berth.
While the United States was boosted by the presence of star forward Folarin Balogun, whose one-game red-card suspension was controversially lifted by FIFA, American defenders were at fault in a pair of first-half goals and goalkeeper Matt Freese’s gaffe gave the Red Devils a third early in the second half.
Second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku added Belgium’s final goal in the third minute of stoppage time after Chris Richards’s giveaway.
“Everyone saw from the beginning we didn’t connect with the game,” said US coach Mauricio Pochettino, who showed his frustration after Belgium’s second goal by kicking a rack in front of the bench, sending four water bottles flying. “It’s a process to learn. We need to assess that game and we need to see why we didn’t approach the game in the same way that (we approached) the rest of the World Cup.”
Seeking its first World Cup title, Belgium knocked Team USA out in the round of 16 for the second time in 12 years and extended its unbeaten streak to 18 games. The Red Devils play 2010 champion Spain on Friday at Inglewood, Calif., for a semifinal berth against France or Morocco.
Malik Tillman tied the score, 1-1, midway through the first half with his second free-kick goal of the tournament, but the Americans conceded just 61 seconds after the ensuing kickoff.
American star Christian Pulisic could only watch from the bench after injuring his right foot when he hit a boot of Belgium captain Youri Tielemans on a 52nd-minute shot attempt. Pulisic favored his foot after that and was replaced seven minutes later.
After winning three games in a World Cup for the first time in this expanded 48-nation tournament, the United States failed in its quest to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002 and lost to Belgium for the seventh straight time since a victory at the initial tournament in 1930. The Americans have dropped 11 of their last 12 games against European opponents, winning only their round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
A heralded generation led by Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams only partially accomplished its goal of lifting soccer’s stature closer to that of the NFL, MLB, and the NBA.
De Ketelaere put Belgium ahead in the ninth minute, the first time in this year’s World Cup the United States conceded first.
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Tillman’s goal in the 31st minute energized a largely red-white-and-blue crowd of 66,925, but De Ketelaere damped that and assisted on Hans Vanaken’s 57th-minute goal after Freese lost control of the ball in front of his net.
All six CONCACAF nations have been eliminated, with the co-hosts US, Mexico, and Canada all falling in the round of 16. All quarterfinalists will come from Europe, South America, and Africa, reinforcing the weakness of CONCACAF and Asia.
Belgium, which left stars Jérémy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne on the bench, pressed from the start and exposed a defense that was regarded as the Americans’ weak spot.
Dodi Lukébakio made a long diagonal pass to the opposite corner, leading to the opening goal. Leandro Trossard controlled the ball and his cross was blocked by Alex Freeman and popped into the air.
Freeman headed the ball into the penalty area and Timothy Castagne charged after it and hooked a centering pass around Chris Richards. De Ketelaere split Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson and with his right foot redirected the ball into an open net.
Pochettino held out his arms, as if to ask: What was going on?
Tillman scored after Brandon Mechele knocked down Balogun about 25 yards from goal. Tillman’s kick deflected off Vanaken’s head and to the left of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had dived right.
Trossard got around Sergiño Dest for a cross and De Ketelaere outjumped Ream and headed the ball past Freese in the 33rd minute for his eighth international goal.
Belgium built a two-goal lead when Mechele lofted a long ball that Freese chested after two hops. Freese hesitated with a touch, then scrambled and kicked the ball off De Ketelaere. Vanaken one-timed a shot from 35 yards that deflected in off Ream, who tried for an off-balance clearance.
Lukaku entered in the 67th minute and scored his 93rd international goal.
Vanaken replaced midfielder Amadou Onana midway through the first half after Onana suffered what coach Rudi Garcia feared might be a serious knee injury.
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