Belgium ended the United States’ FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory in Seattle on Monday, making the Americans the third and final co-host nation to crash out of the tournament.
The result completed a disappointing Round of 16 for the tournament’s hosts after Canada and Mexico were also eliminated.
It ensured none of the three co-hosts progressed to the quarter-finals.
Much of the pre-match attention centred on United States striker Folarin Balogun, who was cleared to play after FIFA suspended his automatic one-match ban following his controversial red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Despite Mauricio Pochettino restoring his leading scorer to the starting line-up, Belgium took control from the opening whistle.
Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring in the ninth minute after Nicolas Raskin capitalised on poor American defending to tee up the forward for a simple finish.
Belgium suffered an injury setback shortly afterwards when Amadou Onana was forced off with an apparent knee problem.
The United States responded midway through the first half as Malik Tillman levelled the contest with a deflected free-kick from 25 yards.
However, the parity lasted barely two minutes as De Ketelaere restored Belgium’s lead, rising highest to head home Leandro Trossard’s cross for his second goal of the evening.
Pochettino reacted by introducing Giovanni Reyna at the start of the second half after Sergiño Dest endured a difficult opening period.
The tactical switch failed to change the flow of the game as Belgium tightened their grip.
Hans Vanaken extended Belgium’s advantage in the 57th minute after Freese rushed off his line but gifted possession to the midfielder, who calmly curled the ball into an empty net from long range.
Romelu Lukaku completed the rout with a late clinical finish as Belgium secured a seventh consecutive victory over the United States.
The defeat also brought the curtain down on the hosts’ hopes of making their first World Cup quarter-final since 2002.
Canada became the first co-host to exit after a 3-0 defeat to Morocco, while Mexico followed after losing to England at the Estadio Azteca.
The United States’ defeat to Belgium completed the clean sweep of Round of 16 eliminations for the tournament’s three host nations.
Belgium will now face European champions Spain in the quarter-finals in Los Angeles on Friday.
