Belgium 1 (Kevin De Bruyne 93*, Romeo Lukaku 105*) : USA 1 ( Julian Green 107*). Played At Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador
It could be an avalanche of Belgain goals had they availed the series of chances that came their way.
They could send USA back home battered and bruised. Belgians somehow managed to strike wide or US goalkeeper made several the reflex saves. Dominating greater part of the game, creating series of goal potential opportunities Belgians had to wait till the extra time to dispatch a frail looking USA to a 2-1 goal defeat. The fresh legs of Romelo Lukaku ran riot in tired US defence. He engineered the first goal for De Bruyne and scored the second. It could be an avalanche if Tim Howard defended his goal like a solid rock of Gibraltar.
USA could manage to reduce the margin through substitute Julian Green in the second period of the extra time. USA could only wake up in the last stage of the game going all out for the equalizer creating pressure on Belgain defence. But it proved too little to late. Belgians booked a date with fancied Argentina in the quarter finals. Why did USA not play like what they played in the second part of the second game? Did not require rubbing slats on their injury with a second goal after the first?
USA defence structure was vulnerable. They were getting beaten time and again.US Goalkeeper Howard made as many as 16 saves in the match. Belgians looked very different from the side that played the group matches. If they can improve their goal scoring ability Argentina may struggle against them I am afraid.
Soccer is not the preferred sport in USA. Soccer Superstars over the last several years are desperately trying to set the root of soccer deep in USA. Still the game is dominated mostly by more eager migrants.
Even the present US team has 5 German Americans. Under clinical care of German World Cup Veteran Jurgen Klinsman USA has made giant stride qualifying from a difficult group having Germany, Portugal and Ghana. Their success spurred many Americans especially the Asian Migrant Community hoping against hope. On the other hand the Competitor Belgium had more organized football made very well planned grass root based soccer development over the last decade or so. The present group of Belgian players is product of that intensive scheme.
With a population of just 11million (almost 29 times less than the 318m people living in the USA) one may think that Belgium can barely compete with America when it comes to the realm of culture, heritage and sporting success.
Yet Belgium was head into their round of 16 World Cup clash against the USA in Salvador in the last match of group sixteen of Brazil World Cup 2014 as favourites to progress. The small European country was competing on an even keel with their opponents on the field. Their unique culinary and cultural tastes also shape up nicely against the financial might and global domination of their US counterparts.
Belgium had underwhelmed thus far, stringing together three very questionable performances, despite accruing nine points. For some, that points to a champion's mentality, but others look at the very challenging match-up the USA present and wonder if it's a step too far.
It was certainly weighing on Eden Hazard's mind, who admitted before the game that he hadn't played a good game yet, despite winning two matches with flashes of brilliance.
The USA had only twice progressed beyond the round of 16 at the World Cup – the first was over 84 years ago at the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay and the second at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
The group stage of that inaugural World Cup also marks the last occasion that Belgium were defeated by the USA, with the Americans emerging as 3-0 winners. The Belgians' record at the planet’s premier competition is not much more impressive, for they have also managed to navigate their way into the final eight of the World Cup on one occasion.
In 1986 in Mexico, their progress was halted by a Diego Maradona’s Argentina in the semi-finals, who would go on to win the competition.
Belgium attacked in the very first minute bringing out an early save from US Goalkeeper. Bright start for Belgium. De Bruyne threads a pass through to Origi who turns on his jet heels and leaves Besler in his wake. He tries to slot it across Howard’s body but the US goalkeeper sticks out his right boot and deflects the ball behind for a corner. On the 3 rd minute USA came back with a first (small) bit of possession from the US as first Cameron and then Bradley try to pick out through balls.
Both fail to find their target. Bradley’s pass to Dempsey on the left is a horrible mess. In 7th minute Belgium looked a real threat on the counter and in Origi they had a level of mobility and pace that they had lacked with Lukaku. De Bruyne collected in the center circle and tries to find the soon-to-be Liverpool striker but the pass was over hit.
First Half: A mix-up between Cameron and Howards gave away a needless corner. Mertens pinged it deep towards Fellaini who got his vast head on the ball. Again Cameron cleared when he could have let it run out. He was fortunate that Alderweireld gave away a free kick and the US got to regroup. It’s a slightly nervous start from the US, however. Bright start for the Red Devils anyway. USA looked a bit immobile in the first 15 minutes of the match when Belgium enjoyed territorial advantage.
The first US move of note came in the 17 th minute. A sloppy touch from Vertonghen earned the US has a corner. Zusi took it, an out swinger, Cameron flicked on to the back stick but nobody is there to capitalize. On 22 minute a good chance came for Belgium but Kevin De Bruyne Marouane Fellaini’ struck it wide of the post.
Vertonghen robbed Zusi in the center circle, charged forward and slipped it to De Bruyne, who cut inside Besler onto his right foot but dragged his finish wide of the post. How did he not even hit the target from there? On 24 minute Vertonghen once again at the center of yet another Belgian attack , racing on to Hazard’s neat through ball he delayed slightly before trying to find Fellaini in the centre and Beasley got back to swipe clear from inside the six-yard box. Johnson, Bradley and Dempsey combined in the midfield orchestrating few US attacks.
But those got broken off before growing big. 35 minute witnessed nice attack from the US with Dempsey and Bradley involved. Bradley’s clipped ball into the centre which was headed clear by Vertonghen and Belgium launched a lightning counter. They worked it to Hazard, who started the move in the right full back position, now he moved on the left flank but cut inside and his shot was smothered by whatever the collective noun for a group of US defenders was. On 40 min came another lightning counter from the US through Yedlin who was making a real difference on the right. He had so much space and wisely looked up and picked out his man rather than flashing it across goal.
Unfortunately that man was Zusi who fluffed his shot. Eventful first half came to an end with dead lock unbroken. Belgium was the better team on view but USA was not far behind.
Belgians were finding greater space US defence in counter attacks and just lacked the final delivery or otherwise from several openings they should have scored at least a goal. It has been seen in past matches that the team which fail to avail opportunities have to repent in the long run. USA must not leave space for the first moving Belgians or the danger would be coming.
Belgium scored all its goals in the later stage of every match.
Second Half: Nothing of note happened in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Belgium was again looking the mostly likely team to score. The constant Belgians attacks kept pounding on the USA defense like torrential rains. But US defence stood firm against onslaughts. USA lived to fight. From 65 th -75 th minute at least 5 chances came to Belgium to score but somehow or other they could not deliver. USA was surviving by the skin of the teeth.
On 71 st minute a Divock Origi (Belgium) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. On 77 th minute Kevin Mirallas (Belgium) left footed shot from the centre of the box was saved in the bottom right corner. The very next moment. Vincent Kompany (Belgium) header from the centre of the box went high and wide to the left.
Another Belgian Attempt was blocked in 83 rd minute. Daniel van Buyten (Belgium) right footed shot from the right side of the box was saved.
Belgians did everything but putting the ball past the US goalkeeper. It does not matter how well a team plays. How much they dominate. It is the goal that brings winner. Belgians just did not find it in the 90 minutes of the match. USA survived to fight out in the extra 30 minutes.
The heroics of US Goalkeeper stood between Belgium and the runaway win. Dead lock not broken in 90 minutes.
Belgium had total domination but it was unbelievable that Belgium did not score. It was a real one way traffic. USA could run away with a surprise goal in the last minute. US goal keeper made some unbelievable saves. But Belgian front men even advancing defenders made school boy like misses. USA soaked out tremendous pressure.
Extra Time:
First Period: Finally the goal came in the first minute as Substitute Romalu Lukaku broke down the left pushed Kevin De Bruyne free who melted the ice in seas to beautify the Belgians.
Finally justice done to the sate of absolute Belgian dominance. Belgium in the lead 1-0 on the 93rd minute of the match. Lukaku made it 2-0 towards the dying minutes of the fisrt period. Very logical reflection of the absolute domination of the Belgians.
Second Half : USA paid back one through Julian Green early in the second half as Belgian defence for a minute lost concentration 2-1.USA kept on pressing for the equalizer and came to getting it on a couple of occasions.
But Belgians could somehow hold on. Where was this American game over the most part of the game? Belgians really did not deserve to throw away the game after doing so much in the game.
BDST: 0741 HRS, JUL 2, 2014
