SALVADOR, Brazil – The United States’ World Cup dream ended on Tuesday night with a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Belgium in the round of 16.
After the Americans clung on desperately to keep the game scoreless after 90 minutes of regulation, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku struck in the first supplemental period to knock the U.S. out of the tournament.
Late substitute Julian Green got one back for the U.S. with 13 minutes to go, but it was not enough to evade being eliminated at this stage for the second straight World Cup.
Depleted by injuries and visibly exhausted, Jurgen Klinsmann’s side had to withstand a near-constant assailing onslaught from an aptitudinal Belgian side that will now face Argentina in the quarterfinal.
The onus to do so was virtually solely on America's stalwart goalkeeper Tim Howard, and he distributed one of the best performances of the tournament in a losing effort. Belgium had 38 shots total in the match and 27 of them were on goal. Howard culminated the game with 16 preserves in a memorable outing.
After going two goals down, the replication from the U.S. was one of extraordinary valiancy. Green, the 19-year-old whose inclusion sparked such controversy, made a near-instant impact, volleying home Michael Bradley’s chip just minutes after superseding Alejandro Bedoya.
With eight minutes left a well-worked free-kick found Clint Dempsey in the box, but the U.S. captain’s shot was preserved by Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
And so an extraordinary journey, one that optically discerned the team progress from the Group of Death and exhilarate the nation in the process, determinately came to a terminus after a thrilling and emotional ride.
