Atlanta (AFP) – The United States were routed 5-2 by Belgium on Saturday in a humbling defeat for Mauricio Pochettino’s team as they prepare to co-host this summer’s World Cup. The thrashing comes as a brutal reality check for the Americans, who have high hopes of a deep run in the upcoming tournament but were found severely lacking once again when facing top European opposition.
Just 75 days before the World Cup kicks off, the Americans took an early lead against the world’s ninth-ranked team, with Weston McKennie slotting in to the delight of a packed 67,000 Atlanta crowd. But any hopes of a statement victory were dashed as the Belgians swiftly came to life, with a deluge of goals from Zeno Debast, Amadou Onana, and Charles De Ketelaere, and a brace from substitute Dodi Lukebakio. Patrick Agyemang grabbed a late consolation for the US, who play Portugal in another high-profile friendly Tuesday before Pochettino announces his final squad in May.
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Long seen as minnows at the international level of soccer, the US hired former Tottenham and Paris Saint Germain coach Pochettino to oversee an increasingly star-studded roster including AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic and Juventus midfielder McKennie. The US will play all of its games at the World Cup on home soil, further raising expectations. But fans shelling out to support the home team will expect to see far more than they witnessed on Saturday.
In a fairly even opening half hour, Belgium’s veteran midfielder Kevin De Bruyne pulled the strings in midfield, and Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku threatened down the left flank, but the US enjoyed the better of the chances. McKennie received the ball unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box from a corner but his shot was brilliantly saved by Manchester United’s Senne Lammens, who is aiming to supplant the injured Thibaut Courtois in Belgium’s goal. But McKennie made no mistake as another corner, delivered by Antonee Robinson, found him near the back post, where he tucked the ball into the net.
The goal seemed to spark Belgium into life. The Red Devils could have had several goals in the first half’s final few minutes, but settled for a wonderful strike from outside the box by Zeno Debast. It was the Sporting Lisbon defender’s first international goal.
After halftime, the floodgates opened. An increasingly dangerous Doku ran down the wing and passed into the box, with the ball scrambled to Onana, who calmly side-footed it home. Six minutes later, US keeper Matt Turner — hoping to win his place back from Matt Freese — thought he had made a tremendous double save, but the referee spotted that Thomas Meunier’s header had brushed captain Tim Ream’s arm. A lengthy VAR check failed to convince the official to overturn his decision, and De Ketelaere slotted in the penalty.
The afternoon went from bad to worse, as Belgium made a raft of substitutes on the hour mark, and one of those — Lukebakio — curled in a sumptuous shot under little pressure. Lukebakio added Belgium’s fifth before Ricardo Pepi took advantage of some sloppy late defending to set up Agyemang. By that time, thousands of US fans had left the domed arena, and full time was greeted with a smattering of subdued boos and whistles.
© 2024 AFP
