De Ketelaere double fires Belgium past USA, Spain next in World Cup quarter-finals
Hosts knocked out in convincing fashion after build-up dominated by row over lifting of Florian Balogun’s suspension
Belgium brought the United States’ World Cup party to a shattering halt in Seattle on Monday, thrashing the tournament co-hosts 4-1 to set up a quarter-final showdown with Spain.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken punished a goalkeeping howler, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a fourth to settle a last-16 clash that had been overshadowed by the pre-match uproar surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun.
Balogun, named in US coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting line-up after Fifa suspended a one-game ban following lobbying by US President Donald Trump, was largely anonymous throughout Monday’s knockout tie at Lumen Field.
Instead, a rampant Belgium ruthlessly dismantled the USA’s hopes of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final in 24 years, in a bitterly disappointing end to a campaign that had captivated the host nation.
De Ketelaere fired Belgium ahead after nine minutes, and although Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick levelled it in the 31st minute, the US fightback was short-lived.
De Ketelaere headed Belgium back in front in the 33rd minute, and Vanaken made it 3-1 in the 57th minute after a dreadful blunder by US goalkeeper Matt Freese, who was dispossessed after charging out of his penalty area to clear.