The United States’ hopes of making a deep run at the World Cup on home soil came to an end on Monday as Belgium cruised to a 4-1 victory in the Round of 16, powered by a brilliant display from Charles De Ketelaere, who scored twice and set up another goal to send the Red Devils into the quarter-finals.

Balogun fails to deliver

Much of the pre-match attention centred on Folarin Balogun, whose controversial return boosted the United States. The 25-year-old striker, who had scored three goals earlier in the tournament, was originally suspended after receiving a red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, FIFA overturned the one-match ban ahead of the Belgium clash after US President Donald Trump intervened on Balogun’s behalf.

Despite the fanfare surrounding his availability, Balogun failed to make a meaningful impact as Belgium exposed the Americans’ defensive frailties. US defenders were responsible for two first-half goals, while goalkeeper Matt Freese’s costly error gifted the Red Devils a third shortly after the break.

Malik Tillman briefly gave the hosts hope by levelling the score at 1-1 midway through the first half with his second free-kick goal of the tournament. But Belgium restored their lead just 61 seconds after the restart, before second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku sealed the emphatic win in stoppage time.

The US tried to set up Balogun multiple times. He made use of his speed on several runs but could not get past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. His best chance came in the 82nd minute, when Courtois got in front of a left-footed attempt. Balogun was replaced by Haji Wright in the 92nd minute.

Suspension lifted, hopes dashed

Last Wednesday during the Americans’ 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, Balogun was shown a red card by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus for stepping on an opponent’s ankle, triggering an automatic one-game suspension.

After Trump spoke by phone to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the discipline for a year on Sunday.

Balogun finished the tournament with three goals, matching Landon Donovan in 2010 for the second-most goals by an American in a World Cup. Bert Patenaude holds the US record with four in the initial tournament in 1930.

Balogun, who was playing in his first World Cup for the Americans, became the first US player to score two goals in a match in the tournament since 1930. But he failed to lead the US to what would have been its first consecutive knockout-stage wins. The best performance by the Americans since 1930 remains their run to the quarterfinals in 2002.

The defeat left US coach Mauricio Pochettino visibly frustrated, with television cameras capturing him kicking a rack in front of the bench and sending four water bottles flying. Belgium will now face Spain in the quarter-finals in Inglewood, California, on Friday.

(With agency inputs)