Extra time goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku sent Belgium into the World Cup quarter-finals for first time in 28 years with a 2-1 win over the United States.
American keeper Tim Howard had made a string of fine saves to keep Marc Wilmots’ men at bay during the 90 minutes in Salvador.
However, he was finally beaten by De Bruyne’s angled drive after good work from substitute Lukaku and De Bruyne then returned the favour to allow Lukaku to slam past his Everton teammate Howard.
The US got back in the game two minutes into the second half of extra time when substitute Julian Green volleyed home and only a fine save from Thibaut Courtois prevented Clint Dempsey from taking the game to penalties moments later.
But Belgium held on to set up a rematch of their 1986 semi-final defeat to Argentina in Brasilia on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
Lille’s 19-year-old striker Divock Origi had been brought into the side at Lukaku’s expense after impressing as a substitute in all three of Belgium’s Group H wins and he was denied within the opening minute by Howard’s outstretched leg after racing onto Kevin de Bruyne’s through ball.
Belgium’s pace on the counter-attack was a constant threat throughout the match and they should have gone in front when Jan Vertonghen fed De Bruyne, but having cut inside to open up the goal he slotted wide at the near post.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s men were then dealt a blow as one of their standout performers in the group stages, Fabian Johnson, limped off with a hamstring injury to be replaced by DeAndre Yedlin.
However, Yedlin nearly made an instant impact as he burst forward on the right and pulled the ball back for the unmarked Graham Zusi who shanked his shot horribly off target.
Belgium started strongly again in the second half with the ever dangerous Vertonghen producing another fine cross from the left that both De Bruyne and Origi failed to turn home.
Origi was desperately unlucky moments later as his header from Toby Alderweireld’s cross came back off the crossbar.
Vertonghen then saw a low effort saved by Howard and volleyed over before Axel Witsel fired a shot inches wide as the wave of Belgian attacks continued.
Origi was then presented with another great chance after a fine run by substitute Kevin Mirallas, but again his low effort was beaten away Howard.
The Everton keeper’s best stop was to come though as he again used his legs to prevent club teammate Mirallas from slotting home 14 minutes from time.
Howard continued his one man resistance by parrying another low effort from Eden Hazard and then turning over a pile-driver from Origi.
Unbelievably the US then passed up a huge chance to win the game in stoppage time when Chris Wondolowski blazed over from Jermain Jones’ knockdown.
Lukaku was introduced for Origi at the beginning of extra time and made an immediate impact as he teed up De Bruyne to finally slot past the outstretched leg of Howard.
The 35-year-old continued to keep his side in the game with three more fine stops, but was eventually beaten for a second time when Lukaku thumped home De Bruyne’s through ball in stoppage time at the end of the first-half of extra time.
America were given a lifeline two minutes into the second period, though, as Green turned home Michael Bradley’s chipped pass.
And they twice came desperately close to taking the game to penalties as Jones fired inches wide before Courtois smothered from Dempsey to book Belgium’s place in the last eight.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Good point on Rais M’Bolhi, Hardcore. Maybe it's a goalkeeper thing. I wondered about Prince Harry, too, but pictures of a young May of Teck show an uncanny resemblance to the Prince.
Clyde Monk
Roar Rookie
Agree that the Americans have a rosy future ahead, but disagree about their WC group. You must have misread my comment AussieFK, never did I say the group wasn't strong, just not as tough as it promised to be, for many reasons. In fact the group was a little disappointing for mine. And even though the USMNT put up a good showing, I personally think the Costa Ricans out performed them thoroughly. Mexico possibly did as well. I'm talking only about World Cup results here. Concacaf doesn't count at this tournament to be honest, other than for WC qualification.
Albatross
Guest
AFK you just can't admit the US team weren't up to it this time round can you!..
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
Rais M'Bolhi of Algeria ran Tim Howard close in the compensatory beard stakes, and I'm not entirely sure what Raul Meireles was up to though... I'm not sure about de Bruyne's linage, but there's a school of thought that suggests Prince Harry isn't actually a royal himself... Did anyone else notice Vertonghen puking up just before the start of extra time? Why the camera lingered for so long I do not know. Not a pretty sight while I was having my breakfast.
Australia Football King
Guest
If you think Mexico & Costa Rica is better than the US,you need to watch Concacaf more. To say a group that came down to the last day, wasn't strong, Is something only an idiot would say. And I don't think you are an idiot. Ghana still had a chance to go second in the group,yet lost to a better Portugal team. That had zero to do with a unpaid and disgruntled Ghana team,it had more to do with the group strength. The USMNT 2018 is predicted to have a chance to get into the semi-finals of the WC.Not themention the USMNT have the Gold Cup & Copa Americain the coming years, tolook forward to.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
I was disappointed to see the USA miss out, as I believe they are a great example of what a cohesive team can achieve, without huge star-power. I believe Australia could benefit from playing against them, and studying their approach. I had 2 main questions, though, after the match: 1. is Kevin de Bruyne related to any Belgian Royals (therefore related to Prince Harry)? and 2. Does Howard have the best compensatory beard of the tournament? [A compensatory beard is one grown to compensate for the diappearance of hair on the head]
Clyde Monk
Roar Rookie
You gotta feel for the Americans. They put in a valiant effort, but were quite literally cut to ribbons by the Belgians. Only a man of the match performance from Howard, pulling off a spectacular save on average every 3 minutes in the second half, kept them in it. Expectations were probably inflated prematurely after the USofA got out of their group. At the start of the tournament, it looked like group G would be 1 of the toughest groups, but it didn't turn out as such. They benefitted from a) an unsettled, unpaid and disgruntled Ghana, who ended up boycotting training etc. b) an inept Portugal who never recovered from their first up shellacking, led by an increasingly frustrated Ronaldo who missed half a dozen solid chances in each group game. And c) a German side who rarely were required to get out of 2nd gear. It was still a fine effort from Klinsmanns men. The worry for them would be the fact they were arguably outperformed by Mexico this World Cup, and most definitely outperformed by the Costa Ricans. But the game is making some progress across the pond. As for the Belgians, if they can just be a little more clinical in front of goal, they'll give Argentina a proper fright, because Howard won't be there to save their skins!