Late goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku sent the US home and Belgium into their first FIFA World Cup quarter-finals time in 28 years with a 2-1 victory.
US goalkeeper Tim Howard made a string of fine saves to keep Marc Wilmots’ men at bay over 90 minutes in Salvador, Brazil, but was finally beaten by De Bruyne’s angled drive after good work from substitute Lukaku. VfL Wolfsburg’s De Bruyne then returned the favor to let Lukaku to slam past his Everton teammate in the US goal.
The Stars and Stripes got back in the game two minutes into the second half of extra-time when substitute Julian Green volleyed home, before a fine save from Thibaut Courtois prevented Clint Dempsey from taking the game to penalties.
Photo: AFP
Yet it was not enough and Belgium held on to set up a rematch of their 1986 semi-final defeat to Argentina in Brasilia on Saturday.
US coach Jurgen Klinsmann described Howard’s performance as “phenomenal,” saying: “He had an absolutely amazing match, you can give him the biggest compliments in the world. He kept us in the game over the 120 minutes.”
LOSC Lille Metropole striker Divock Origi, 19, had been brought into the Red Devils lineup at Lukaku’s expense after impressing as a substitute in all three of their Group H wins and was denied within the opening minute by Howard’s leg after racing onto De Bruyne’s through-ball.
Photo: Reuters
Belgium’s pace on the counterattack was a constant threat and they should have gone in front when Jan Vertonghen fed De Bruyne, but having cut inside to open up the goal he slotted wide at the near post.
Klinsmann’s men were then dealt a blow as one of their standout performers in the group phase, Fabian Johnson, limped off with an injury to be replaced by DeAndre Yedlin.
Yedlin nearly made an instant impact when he burst forward on the right and pulled the ball back for the unmarked Graham Zusi, who shanked his shot horribly off target.
Belgium started strongly again in the second, with the ever dangerous Tottenham Hotspur man Vertonghen producing another fine cross from the left that both De Bruyne and Origi failed to turn home.
Origi was desperately unlucky moments later when his header from Toby Alderweireld’s cross came back off the crossbar.
Vertonghen then saw a low effort saved by Howard and volleyed over before Axel Witsel fired a shot inches wide as the wave of Belgium attacks continued. Origi was then presented with another great chance after a fine run by substitute Kevin Mirallas, but again his low effort was beaten away Howard.
The Everton goalkeeper’s best stop was to come though as he again used his legs to prevent club teammate Mirallas from slotting home 14 minutes from time.
Howard continued his one-man resistance by parrying another effort from Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and a pildedriver from Origi.
Unbelievably, the US then passed up a huge chance to win the game in stoppage-time when Chris Wondolowski blazed Jermain Jones’ knockdown over.
Lukaku was introduced for Origi at the beginning of extra-time and made an instant impact as he teed up De Bruyne to finally slot past the outstretched leg of Howard.
The 35-year-old continued to keep his side in the game with three more fine stops, but was eventually beaten for a second time when Lukaku thumped home to book Belgium’s place in the last eight.
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