Belgium vs USA, World Cup results: Belgium finally gets past Tim Howard, eliminates USMNT

The United States made it out of the Group of Death at the 2014 World Cup and is into the Round of 16. In the first knockout round the Americans play Belgium a team many picked to be the dark horse team to contend for the trophy.

While the Belgians won all three group stage games, they were less than impressive winning each game by only a goal and usually late and in dramatic fashion. The Americans were still clearly the underdog but they still feel like there is a chance they can advance.

Right out of the game the United States found themselves on the defensive side of things when Divock Origi got past the defense and goalkeeper Tim Howard was forced to make an early save.

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Around the 18th minute the United States nearly had a scoring opportunity by Geoff Cameron. Moments later Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey worked Thibaut Courtois to make a save.

It was a great response from a Belgian attack that was thwarted and countered quickly. But the early steps of the game had a back and forth of one team attacking then the other having a go.

Kevin De Buyne lead an attack after a Graham Zusi miscue that resulted in a shot going just wide. The United States were outnumbered and got very lucky that the shot wasn’t on target.

In the 26th minute the United States almost got caught again, but a cross just yards out in front of the goal was cleared by DaMarcus Beasley. It was just in the middle of the a rough stretch for the United States as Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard terrorized the right side of the line up. What was a back and forth became the United States weathering the Belgian attack, wave after wave.

The United States took a big hit in the 32nd minute when defender Fabian Johnson injured his hamstring and had to come off the field. The United States substituted on DeAndre Yedlin to replace him.

The United States continued to weather the storm for most of the remainder of the second half, though having a couple of chances of their own down the stretch.

The second half started the same way as the first half did, with Tim Howard making a save to keep the Americans in the game. In the 54th minute a loss pass got all the way through the box past a pair of American defenders but Origi couldn’t make the Americans pay.’

In the 56th minute there was another shot that hit the cross bar, again from Origi. Seconds later Tim Howard had to make another save to keep them scoreless.

The United States was stuck in their defensive third, but a counter in the 58th minute almost led to an American goal. It would’ve been huge for the Americans, and stripped Belgium of their momentum.

In the 60th minute Origi created an opportunity for Dries Mertens and the ball went just wide of the goal, the United States lucking out again and you have to wonder how much longer the Americans could continue to luck out.

At this point in the game the possession seemed to balance out a bit more and the Americans got some chances, albeit not quality ones. The Belgians were out shooting the Americans 4-to-1 at this point in the game, with 17 shots and five on goal to four shots and one on goal for the Americans.

The Americans weather another set of close chances, Howard coming up big in a one-on-one situation. Minutes later he blocked another Eden Hazard shot to keep his team in it.

At this point in the game Tim Howard had 10 saves for the United States and it could be his individual performance that had the United States in the game this late.

The Americans had a corner kick in the 87th minute but failed to even get the ball redirected on goal. The Americans nearly got an opportunity byt Chris Wondolowski to score the game winner in stoppage time of the second half but failed to get it on target.

The United States finally had a goal get past them just minutes into extra time from Kevin De Bruyne. Striker Romelu Lukaku was substituted on just before this goal and played a big role in creating that opportunity. It was clear that Lukaku’s presence changed things and gave Belgium the edge they needed.

In the 105th minute, after Howard had made 15 saves, Lukaku scored to seemingly put the Belgiums into the quarterfinals.

In the second period of overtime the United States substituted on Julian Green and it looked like they were almost conceding defeat and giving the youngster experience.

Instead, Green breathed life into the American team scoring a goal on his first touch. It was a beautiful volley over the Belgium defense that green struck out of midair to score and give the Americans a shot at tying the game back up to force penalty kicks.

They had plenty of opportunities, but possibly none better than this set piece from the Americans, which they failed to convert at the end despite executing perfectly.

They added one minute of extra time which USMNT coach Jürgen Klinsmann was not thrilled with.

Ultimately, it was a valiant effort from the Americans in the final minutes of the game, but not enough to force penalty kicks. Belgium held on to win 2-1 and eliminated the USA. Belgium will advance to the quarterfinals to play Argentina and the Americans can feel better about the way the Belgium game ended compared to the first 90 minutes.

Howard’s 16 saves in the game were the most by a goalkeeper in a World Cup since 1966.