07/06/26 09:35:00
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07/06 21:33 CDT Belgium beats US 4-1 to reach World Cup quarterfinals, taking
advantage of defensive lapses
Belgium beats US 4-1 to reach World Cup quarterfinals, taking advantage of
defensive lapses
By RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
SEATTLE (AP) --- 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 U.S. 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' giveaway.
"Everyone saw from the beginning we didn't connect with the game," said U.S.
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 the U.S. 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,
California, 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 U.S. 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 their goal of lifting soccer's stature closer to that of
the NFL, MLB and the NBA.
De Ketelaere put Belgium ahead in the eighth minute, the first time in this
year's World Cup the U.S. conceded first.
Tillman's goal in the 31st minute energized a largely red-white-and-blue crowd
of 66,925 at Lumen Field, 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 U.S., Mexico
and Canada falling in the round of 16. All quarterfinalists will come from
Europe, Africa or South America, reinforcing the weakness of CONCACAF and Asia.
Belgium, which left stars Jrmy Doku and Kevin DeBruyne on the bench, pressed
from the start and exposed a defense that was regarded as the Americans' weak
spot.
Dodi Lukbakio made a long diagonal pass to the opposite corner, leading to the
opening goal. Leandro Troussard 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 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 deflected to the left of
goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had dived right.
Troussard got around Sergio 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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