Belgium
have booked the last ticket to the World Cup quarter-finals, knocking out the
USA 2-1 in extra time. Tim Howard played perhaps the game of his life in the US
goal, but Belgium ultimately broke the dam.
Deutsche Welle, 2 July 2014
After
Ottmar Hitzfeld's Swiss side missed a chance against Argentina, ex-Germany boss
Jürgen Klinsmann could not lead the US national team into the last eight. Had
either he or Hitzfeld won on Tuesday, they could have become the first German
coach to lead a country other than Germany into the quarters.
Belgium
stated their intent in Salvador in the very first minute, when Kevin de Bruyne
fed teenage striker Divock Origi for a shot on goal. Tim Howard got down low to
parry away for a corner. The names changed but the fundamental story stayed the
same throughout regulation time. Belgium made markedly more chances than their
opponents, but a mixture of profligacy and Howard's heroics kept the game at
0-0 right through until extra-time. Dries Mertens, de Bruyne, Eden Hazard,
Marouane Fellaini, even left-back Jan Vertonghen: Howard denied them all at
some point in the match as Belgium fired 23 shots at his goal just in
regulation time.
 |
| Without Howard's heroics between the US posts, Belgium might have ran away with the game |
The US were
also forced into an early tactical change when Fabian Johnson went off with a
strained hamstring. Yet youngster DeAndre Yedlin came off the bench and managed
to fill Johnson's big boots with a standout perfomance.
Marc
Wilmots' Belgian side had not scored before the 70th minute all World Cup, but
for the first time the Red Devils went the full 90 without finding the net.
Chris Wondolowski of the US had a golden chance in stoppage time to provide the
winner against the run of play, but blasted wildly over the bar from close in.
The officials called Wondolowski back for offside, although replays proved they
were mistaken. Thus the striker did FIFA a favor by spurning the chance and
neutering any officiating scandal.
Germany vs.
Algeria revisited in extra time
Just like
the German match against Algeria, which stood 0-0 in regulation time, the
favorites struck almost immediately after the restart. Some sloppy play from
key US men Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey allowed Belgium to pinch
possession and play in de Bruyne in the box.
 |
| No Landon Donovan in Brazil for the US, but did his successor just announce his arrival? |
The
Wolfsburg star made no mistake, firing a low placed shot into the far corner,
leaving the otherwise exemplary Howard a helpless spectator. The intensive and
defensive effort invested by Klinsmann's side started to tell in extra time,
and it was only exacerbated by the disappointment of finally conceding.
Belgium's
introduction of Romelu Lukaku up front also provided the Red Devils with more
late attacking impetus against tired legs. Lukaku forced Howard into two
stoppage time saves before scoring Belgium's second, seemingly sealing the
match.
In what
seemed like an admission of defeat at the time, Klinsmann brought on US-German
Bayern Munich academy star Julian Green as his third and final substitute on
the stroke of 105 minutes. Immediately after the extra-time restart,
19-year-old Green volleyed the US back into contention, scoring with
practically his first touch of the game. The goal unsettled Belgium and the US
started to pour forward, running on adrenaline with the prospect of penaties
suddenly revived. But by the skin of their teeth at the end of an exhilarating
game, the Belgians were able to hold out to win 2-1.
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