Belgium defeated co-hosts USA 4-1 to enter the quarter-finals of the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
Victory against the United States means the Belgians will now have to contend with one of the top sides in football.
Besides, the other two co-hosts, Canada and Mexico, were already eliminated in the round of 16. Belgium surprisingly started with several top-line strikers benched, including Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku among the heavyweights left out.
However, Coach Rudi Garcia’s gambit proved inspired, with De Ketelaere grabbing an early goal to puncture the feel-good vibes in Seattle.
Malik Tilman, who is at the peak of his career, pulled one back for the US side through a free kick, but De Ketelaere swiftly restored Belgium’s lead.
Besides, a goalkeeping error by Matt Freese and a late Romelu Lukaku goal left the Americans dead and buried.
FIFA’s move to suspend Balogun’s ban after he was sent off in the previous round against Bosnia and Herzegovina has been slammed by football fans, pundits and players around the world, but there were no such misgivings among the Seattle crowd.
Fans present in the Seattle stadium gave mixed reactions after finding Balogun’s name in the starting line-up.
While Belgian fans were in shock, the US fans made an astounding cheer, vastly dwarfing even the cheers for USA talisman Christian Pulisic.
Also read: Portugal crashes out of FIFA World Cup
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