After a rough first half against Belgium on Monday night, USA remained a goal away from equalizing in the second while trailing, 2-1.
But a disastrous sequence shortly out of the break allowed Belgium to double its lead to 3-1 en route to a dominant 4-1 win in Seattle that ended USA’s World Cup run.
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Second-half sequence dooms USA
In the 57th minute, Belgium booted a deep ball from its own territory toward the U.S. goal. Three U.S. players gave chase alongside Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere with a chance to take control of the ball.
But U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese stepped several feet beyond the box in an effort to corral it himself. Except he didn’t.
De Ketelaere kicked the ball loose from Freese after Freese planted his left toe in the dirt in an apparent missed effort to kick the ball. Belgium’s Hans Vanaken then took control with only U.S. defender Tim Ream standing anywhere near the goal.
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Ream couldn’t block the ball, and it rolled in slowly for a Belgium goal that sucked the life out of Seattle’s Lumen Field crowd.
Replay showed Ream had a chance to block the ball, but lifted his left leg while off balance just as it cleared below his foot.
It added up to a disaster for USA in terms of decision-making and execution as Belgium scored with Freese nowhere close to his place in goal.
Freese discussed the play with Yahoo Sports’ Steven Goff after the game.
“Obviously disappointed for my involvement in an error in judgment on the third goal, Freese said. “It’s part of the position.
“I know the guys in front of me did everything they could to get the win, and so proud of them, and wish that obviously that moment was different and wish the result was different.”
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Freese also addressed the moment when he ceded control of the ball to De Ketelaere.
“I felt him so close I thought he was going to kick my leg, and so I tried to get out of it,” Freese continued.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia told reporters in his postgame news conference that his team’s pressure pushed Freese into his mistake.
“We put them in some difficulties, like the third goal,” Garcia said. “The goalkeeper made a mistake, because we pushed him to. We wanted to play forward and change the game.”
Rough day for Ream, USA
The play also continued what had already been a rough day for Ream, who was on the wrong end of Belgium’s previous two goals.
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Belgium stunned USA early and was in control of the game from the opening minutes. It converted that control into a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute as USA’s defense collapsed near the box.
Nicolas Raskin delivered a cross from the left side that De Ketelaere converted to the back of the net with little resistance. Ream stood nearly frozen as Raskin’s pass rolled in front of him to De Ketelaere’s right foot.
Then in the 33rd minute, De Ketelaere scored again. This time, Leandro Trossard delivered a cross from the left baseline that De Ketelaere headed in past Freese.
Replay shows that Ream had position to put his head on the ball first. But De Ketelaere outmuscled him from behind to get his head on the ball over the top of Ream’s.
Belgium went on to add an insurance goal late, capping a dominant performance and a disappointing effort from USA with a trip to the quarterfinals at stake.
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With the win, Belgium advances to take on Spain in a quarterfinal matchup on Friday. USA, meanwhile, sees its dream World Cup on home soil come to a difficult end.
