Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Salvador: Romelu Lukaka came off the bench to set up one and score another as Belgium advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup with a deserved 2-1 win over the USA on Tuesday.
The regulation 90 minutes ended goalless in no small measure to the inspired form of Tim Howard but the introduction of Lukaka in extra-time made the difference with the Everton striker setting up Kevin De Bruyne for the opener before he got his name on the scoresheet to put the Belgians in control.
USA's extra-time substitute Julian Green reduced the deficit with a brilliantly taken volley to set up a barnstorming finish to the hugely entertaining Round of 16 clash.
Belgium set the tone for an entertaining first-half just 60 seconds when Kevin de Bruyne fed teenager Divock Origi who surged past LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez only to see his effort cleared by the leg of USA keeper Tim Howard.
The USA had their first chance some 20 minutes later as Belgium keeper Thibaut Courtois denied skipper Clint Dempsey before buccaneering left back Jan Vertonghen, scorer of Belgium's winner against Korea Republic, delivered a tantalising ball into the six-yard box only for DeMarcus Beasley to clear the danger before Marouane Fellaini could pounce and break the deadlock in the 27th minute.
Belgium went on the offensive immediately after the interval and Howard had to be alert to tip Dries Mertens' looping header over the bar two minutes after the interval before it was the bar that came to the USA's rescue in the 55th minute when Origi headed against the woodwork with the Everton keeper beaten.
Howard again came out on top in his personal duel with Origi in the 70th minute when the bearded-keeper blocked the young Lille striker's shot after substitute Kevin Mirallas created havoc with his charge into the American area.
Five minutes later, Origi turned provider for Mirallas with a perfectly weighted through ball but Howard was out sharply to deny his Everton team-mate before Howard palmed away Eden Hazard's 78th minute curler after Fellaini had knocked Mirallas' cross intelligently into the Chelsea attacker's path.
Vincent Kompany became the next Belgian to be frustrated by the heroic Howard when, with two minutes left of regulation time, his scuffed shot was parried clear by the diving USA number one, and the Red Devils were almost made to pay for failing to convert their countless chances in stoppage time only for Chris Wondolowski to miss from close range with the goal at his mercy.
Two minutes into extra-time the deadlock was finally broken as De Bruyne squeezed the ball past the outstretched leg of Howard although much of the credit should go to substitute Romelu Lukaku, who came on at the start of extra-time for Origi, for creating the opportunity with his powerful charge down the right channel and his pass towards the Wolfsburg winger.
Howard twice denied Lukaku and then Mirallas with the USA looking vulnerable on the counter-attack as Jurgen Klinsmann's side chased the equaliser and they were punished just seconds from half-time of extra-time and it was another of Howard's club colleagues that did the damage with Lukaku blasting home the second.
A stunning finish from 19-year-old substitute Julian Green, who was introduced at the end of the first-half of extra-time in place of Alejandro Bedoya, gave the USA a lifeline and knocked the Belgians off their stride, with Courtois needing to be sharp to deny Dempsey the equaliser in a nerve-wracking climax to a stunning show in Salvador.
Photo: AFP