The U.S. men’s national team was eliminated in the round of 16 for the fourth time in five World Cups after a 4-1 loss to Belgium on Monday at Lumen Field in Seattle, according to the match report.
Belgium opened the scoring inside the first nine minutes when Charles De Ketelaere struck, placing the Americans on the back foot. Malik Tillman equalized with a free kick in the 31st minute, but De Ketelaere scored again two minutes later to restore Belgium’s lead. A second-half error by goalkeeper Matt Freese led to what became a decisive third Belgian goal, and Romelu Lukaku benefited from a misplayed ball late in the match as the score rose to 4-1, according to the report.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino received a 5 out of 10 rating. The report noted Belgium registered six shots in the first 11 minutes and the U.S. struggled at times to control possession. Pochettino brought on Gio Reyna at halftime seeking a spark, and the team had moments trying to find an equalizer before Freese’s costly miscue.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese was graded a 2. The report said he misread the early sequence that led to De Ketelaere’s opener, was out of position on the second goal and then saw a back-pass attempt deflect off De Ketelaere to Hans Vanaken for the third. Right back Alex Freeman was given a 3 for being exposed on both of Belgium’s first-half strikes and failing to convert a promising chance from a Tyler Adams cross.
Center backs Chris Richards and Tim Ream each received a 3, the report saying both were caught out of position on De Ketelaere’s first goal and Richards struggled to contain Lukaku on the fourth. Left back Antonee Robinson earned a 4 for intermittent attacking contributions but limited effect defensively on the opening goal. Midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams were both rated 4; McKennie was present across the pitch but produced few game-changing plays, while Adams recovered at times to force Belgium wider and worked to retain possession as the U.S. had the ball in sporadic spells, according to the report.
