USA's World Cup dream ends in 4-1 Belgium rout after embarrassing defensive mistakes

SEATTLE — A U.S. World Cup campaign that began with exaltation and promise, with swelling momentum both on the field and across the country, boosting a sport to towering levels, came to a screeching and distressing halt Monday.

With a golden chance to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in 24 years — and further galvanize a nation that had embraced this team like no other — the U.S. missed assignments, defended naively and made countless mistakes that Belgium punished with merciless efficiency.

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The 4-1 loss at sold-out Lumen Field looked and felt like the Round of 16 loss to the Netherlands four years ago in Qatar. The gap between an elite European side — even a Belgian one past its prime — and the U.S. was profound.

“Today wasn’t a good day,” midfielder Tyler Adams said afterward. “It stings. This was a moment to have the opportunity to advance and really try and do something special.

“We fell short.”

The Americans were in trouble from the first minute and, after drawing even on another Malik Tillman free kick, they conceded the go-ahead goal two minutes later and never fully recovered.

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While Belgium will face Spain on Friday (3 p.m. ET) in the Los Angeles area, the U.S. will cherish its accomplishments — winning the group after just two matches and winning a knockout game for the first time since 2002 — but also lament its performance when the lights were brightest.

Christian Pulisic, the face of the program, did not play well before departing with a leg injury early in the second half. Folarin Balogun, the subject of controversy created by FIFA the past two days, was not much of a factor.

Winger Sergiño Dest was pulled at the half. Captain Tim Ream, who had performed well all tournament, was exposed. Goalkeeper Matt Freese’s blunder all but ended the U.S. hopes.

It was a deflating day for coach Mauricio Pochettino and his confident bunch.

With Balogun cleared to play, despite a red card in the Round of 32, Pochettino started his first-choice lineup for the second straight match and third time in five matches.

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Alex Freeman, Chris Richards and Ream shielded Freese, while Tyler Adams and Tillman worked the middle of the field, Dest and Antonee Robinson ran the flanks and Weston McKennie and Pulisic collaborated with Balogun.

Belgium entered this World Cup with a foundation of famous players in a final bid for championship glory. The best, however, that Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois and Co. had managed was third place at the 2018 World Cup. The Red Devils failed to escape the 2022 group stage and fell well short in three successive European Championships.

This summer, they drew with Egypt and Iran before blasting New Zealand and needing a miraculous comeback to overcome Senegal in the Round of 32.

Nonetheless, Belgium is European royalty with elite talent, including Aston Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans, Arsenal midfielder Leandro Trossard and Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku, who shredded the U.S. in a 5-2 friendly in March in Atlanta. Real Madrid‘s Courtois remains one of the world’s finest keepers.

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While Tielemans, Trossard and Courtois started, Doku, Lukaku and De Bruyne were on the bench. Doku had missed the second match of group play with a respiratory infection but appeared in the subsequent two games.

In the buildup, Ream said, “We’re in a new environment. This is a completely different game than in March.”

The style of this match was sure to change since the U.S. faced Bosnia and Herzegovina, which deployed defensive tactics that tested the Americans’ patience and kept the score level until Balogun’s goal just before intermission.

After facing few serious bids in his prior three appearances, Freese went to work 45 seconds into the match. He needed to soar to his right to deny Timothy Castagne‘s 26-yarder targeting the top corner. It was a sign of things to come.

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Belgium was calculating in possession, an approach that drew derision from the crowd. It was successful, however.

After Tielemans whiffed on what should’ve been a goal, Belgium went ahead.

Freeman attempted to alleviate pressure by heading out from deep in the box. At the top of the box, Nicolas Raskin took the initiative, stepping in front of the ball-watching Dest as well as McKennie, settling the ball and taking two touches before hooking a cross between Ream and Robinson for Charles De Ketelaere to tap in.

Desperate Americans, on the field and in the stands, looked to the sideline for an offside flag. Rightfully, there was none. The U.S. had blown its assignment.

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Belgium continued dictating play. U.S. possession yielded nothing of substance. Pulisic wasn’t a factor and Balogun was left to chase the ball as the Red Devils remained patient and deliberate. Famous for its ear-splitting volume, Lumen Field fell silent.

The first promising moment came in the 30th minute, when Balogun drew a foul 25 yards out.

Five days prior, Tillman had secured the 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina with a marvelous free kick off-center just beyond the penalty area. This one was straight on and a few yards deeper. Unlike the last match, this attempt did not clear the wall, striking substitute Hans Vanaken‘s head.

The contact diverted the ball’s flight. Courtois went one way, the ball the other, fluttering into the net. Tillman had done it again, albeit with some assistance.

The good times lasted less than two minutes.

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Trossard carried to the end line, taking two U.S. players with him. He lifted a cross into the six-yard box, where De Ketelaere timed his jump to beat Ream and nodded in the header.

Furious with his team’s lapse, Pochettino booted a water bottle carrier along the sideline. This was not the resolute team he had watched the past month.

In Qatar four years ago, the U.S. halved a two-goal deficit before conceding another goal five minutes later.

Belgium’s menace continued. The U.S. was fortunate Dodi Lukebakio failed to make solid contact on a clear bid in the box. American attacks were more hopeful than substantive. On the last touch of the half, Pulisic’s corner kick was useless.

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Knowing the U.S. couldn’t afford to continue this way, Pochettino made adjustments at halftime. Gio Reyna entered in central midfield, Dest departed and, in his place, Freeman had greater responsibility on the right flank.

The U.S. outlook improved, but the Red Devils absorbed pressure.

Then it all fell apart.

On a long ball over the U.S. defense, Freese came out of the box and calmly chested down the ball. With De Ketelaere pressuring from behind, Freese began to swing his left leg and stopped. Now he was in big trouble.

On Freese’s second try, the Belgian striker deflected the ball to Vanaken for a 35-yard one-timer that an off-balance Ream failed to block.

It got worse. Pulisic was forced to leave with a right leg injury, suffered moments earlier when, on a shot attempt, he kicked an opponent instead of the ball.

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Sebastian Berhalter entered. Later, striker Ricardo Pepi replaced Adams. It was desperation time for the U.S., which now had to contend with Doku and Lukaku.

Richards’ giveaway in the penalty area allowed Lukaku to apply the finishing touches in stoppage time.

Time melted away, not only on the match but on an otherwise unforgettable few weeks.

Here’s how the USMNT vs. Belgium match unfolded in realtime.