Belgium beat US to reach World Cup quarter-finals

Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen, left, and USA’s Jermaine Jones, right,  vie the ball during the World Cup  match at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, yesterday.

Reuters

Salvador, Brazil

Extra-time goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku sealed a thrilling 2-1 victory for Belgium over a spirited US yesterday and set up a World Cup quarter-final clash with Argentina.

After dominating the game and being frustrated by an inspired Tim Howard in the US goal, De Bruyne struck in the 93rd minute, collecting a loose ball before turning and firing home an angled shot from seven metres.

In a pulsating extra time period, substitute Lukaku powered home a second on 105 minutes after a neat De Bruyne pass before Julian Green’s neat volley ensured a tense finish in which Clint Dempsey almost sneaked an equaliser.

It could have been very different for the Belgians had US substitute Chris Wondolowski not horribly skewed wide from five metres in the dying seconds of normal time to seal what would have been a smash and grab victory.

Belgium enjoyed nearly all the possession and looked the more dangerous side throughout as the US were forced to set up camp outside their box and look for the break.

On his first start in Brazil, Belgium striker Divock Origi was in on goal inside 40 seconds but his low drive was parried away for a corner by Howard, while the lively De Bruyne should have done better after 23 minutes after finding space in the box.

Dempsey’s tame volley represented the best chance for the Americans in the first half but it was the Belgians who looked strong again after the interval.

All the Belgian goals in Brazil had come after the 70th- minute mark.

Midfielder Green raised US hopes by pulling one back with a smart volley two minutes later but after Thibaut Courtois denied Dempsey’s clever set-piece move, it was Belgium who held on to seal their first World Cup quarter-final since 1986.