Belgium say beating USMNT 'justice' for Balogun playing
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the World Cup round of 16, with Romelu Lukaku scoring the final goal and provoking the crowd by holding his hand to his ear.
- The match followed controversy over U.S. forward Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension being overturned by FIFA, a decision Belgium's soccer federation questioned but players said did not affect their motivation.
- Belgium extended its unbeaten streak to 18 games and eliminated the U.S. for the second time in 12 years, with standout performances from Charles De Ketelaere, who scored twice, and a strong defensive effort led by captain Youri Tielemans.
- Belgium will face 2010 champion Spain in the quarterfinals but will be without injured midfielder Amadou Onana, who sustained a serious injury early in the match against the U.S.
- Despite the off-field distractions, Belgium players emphasized focusing on football, with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois expressing confidence in their victory over the U.S. compared to their previous match against Senegal.
