World Cup co-hosts USA suffered a thrashing at the hands of Belgium, who ran out 5-2 winners at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday.
Weston McKennie opened the scoring for the US in the first half, but the visitors hit back with five unanswered goals courtesy of Zeno Debast, Amadou Onana, a Charles De Ketelaere penalty and a brace from substitute Dodi Lukebakio.
Patrick Agyemang pulled one back for the hosts late on, but it was little more than consolation as the US’s inconsistent run under manager Mauricio Pochettino continues with just a matter of months before the showpiece event kicks off.
An even first half
Belgium were welcoming back the talismanic Kevin De Bruyne to the team, however the first sight on goal fell to the hosts.
With acres of space on the edge of the box, Fulham’s Antonee Robinson forced a fine stop from Manchester United’s Senne Lammens in the Belgium goal following a neat one-two between Malik Tillman and Christian Pulisic in the build-up.
Both Lammens and Tillman were again involved moments later when the latter’s corner found its way through a collection of bodies to the unmarked McKennie, but again the Belgian was on hand to deny a certain goal.
At the other end, Matt Turner between the sticks for the US was forced into a save when when a De Bruyne effort from distance deflected off Mark McKenzie.
On 37 minutes, the visitors had a goal ruled out after Jeremy Doku’s ball across was eventually bundled in off the arm of De Ketelaere.
But just as it seemed like Belgium were beginning to cause problems, they fell behind when McKennie was again left all alone from a corner and this time made no mistake from close range.
The lead, however, lasted just six minutes. On the stroke of half-time, Debast fired past Turner from distance, the midfielder’s low drive beating the New England Revolution loanee before nestling into the far corner.
Belgium run riot after the break
After the break, Pulisic perhaps should have done better when he danced through the Belgian defence, but his finish was wild and the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar.
The hosts had started the half brightly but it was the visitors who took the lead courtesy of Onana, the Aston Villa man finding the net from the edge of the area after being picked out by Alexis Saelemaekers following more impressive work from Doku.
Just over five minutes later, Belgium extended their advantage after the ball was adjudged to have struck the hand of US captain Tim Ream, with De Ketelaere converting the resulting spot-kick.
The visitors were now running riot in Atlanta and added a fourth not long after the hour mark when substitute Lukebakio produced a lovely finish past Turner.
Lukebakio netted his second and Belgium’s fifth late on before the US grabbed a consolation goal with three minutes of the 90 remaining after Ricardo Pepi dispossessed Youri Tielemans and fed Agyemang, who tapped home.
It proved to be the last action of the game. For Belgium, the win was a resounding one. For the US, meanwhile, the result will do little to boost the hopes of an expectant nation ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
