World Cup Round of 16: Belgium Dominates USA After Spain Edges Past Portugal

Monday’s World Cup matches delivered intense moments as Spain narrowly defeated Portugal, and Belgium overwhelmed the United States in Seattle. After England and Norway knocked out Mexico and Brazil on Sunday, the knockout stage intensified with these pivotal encounters.

Spain’s Late Goal Seals Win Over Portugal

Spain displayed control throughout their match against Portugal, yet goals were scarce until stoppage time. A slick pass from Ferran Torres found Mikel Merino, who scored to clinch a 1-0 victory for La Roja.

Belgium Cruises Past USA 4-1

The night game saw Belgium overpower the USA. Despite Folarin Balogun’s suspension being lifted just a day earlier, the American side struggled against the Red Devils.

Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring early, netting in the 9th minute. The U.S. responded when Malik Tillman struck a stunning free kick to even the score at 1-1. Yet De Ketelaere wasted no time reclaiming the lead, scoring again one minute later.

In the second half, defensive errors haunted the Americans. A misplay by goalkeeper Matt Freese and defender Tim Ream allowed Hans Vanaken to tap in an easy goal, extending Belgium's lead to 3-1. Romelu Lukaku sealed the outcome with a goal during stoppage time, ending the contest 4-1.

Match Recap and Reactions

The loss left the U.S. team and fans disappointed. Left back Antonee Robinson admitted it was unlike their previous performances. The team had shown promise throughout the tournament but fell short against a top European squad.

"It's hard to say where it went wrong," Robinson said after the match.

Christian Pulisic suffered an injury late in the game and was replaced by Sebastian Berhalter. He received treatment on the bench, visibly upset with what appeared to be a lower right leg issue.

Key Moments Highlight Defensive Struggles

A critical sequence unfolded in the 57th minute. Belgium launched a long ball toward the U.S. goal, with three American defenders chasing Charles De Ketelaere. Goalkeeper Matt Freese moved outside his box to intercept but missed the ball. De Ketelaere regained possession and passed to Hans Vanaken, who scored past Tim Ream, leaving the home crowd stunned.

The goal drained the energy from Lumen Field, marking a turning point in the match.

Final Scores and Upcoming Matches

Belgium will face Spain in the quarterfinals following their commanding win.

Additional Notes

• Folarin Balogun was fined $40,000 by FIFA related to his red card incident before the match.
• Belgium started without key players Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku, both on the bench.
• The U.S. lineup featured a 4-3-3 formation with Balogun and Pulisic leading the attack.
• British Prime Minister Keir Starmer intervened to keep England’s kickoff time against Mexico unchanged despite weather concerns.