Charles De Ketelaere scored a first-half double to give Belgium a 2-1 half-time lead as the United States struggled in their World Cup last-16 tie despite the controversial reprieve for Folarin Balogun.
Balogun, sent off in the USA’s win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32, was cleared to play in Seattle, with FIFA suspending his automatic one-game ban by a year.
US president Donald Trump on Monday confirmed reports he had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request for the incident to be reviewed. Infantino insisted the decision was made autonomously by the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
The decision has prompted a furious response from the wider football world and raised questions about political interference. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished” by the ruling, which it unsuccessfully appealed.
Belgium began Monday’s game like a team motivated by the saga, with Timothy Castagne forcing Matt Freese into a fine early save with a curling long-range effort.
Rudi Garcia’s men continued to pile on the pressure and it told as they made the most of the USA’s failure to clear their lines.
Nicolas Raskin played a low ball across the box and De Ketelaere made no mistake in tapping home from point-blank range.
There was a setback for Belgium as Amadou Onana was forced off through injury and replaced by Hans Vanaken, who then played an unfortunate role in the USA drawing level in the 31st minute with their first shot of the match.
Malik Tillman’s free-kick deflected off the head of Vanaken, wrong-footing a helpless Thibaut Courtois, who was left with no chance.
But the USA were level for just two minutes, De Ketelaere heading home his second from an excellent left-wing cross from Leandro Trossard to restore Belgium’s lead, which should have been doubled when Dodi Lukebakio headed wide with the goal at his mercy from Maxim De Cuyper’s free-kick delivery.
