World Cup 2014 Brazil » Round of 16 » Live commentary: Belgium - USA 2:1

Fulltime Summary:
Yet another favorite needs a good portion of luck to advance to the quarter finals! The Red Devils gradually took over the game late in regulation, but were not able to beat Tim Howard, who finished the game with record-breaking 16 saves. After consequently going in front in overtime, Belgium collapsed and the 1-2 set up a frantic finish by the US-Boys. The game probably should have been decided in a penalty shootout, but it fits the script that the next favorite has been severely challenged but not knocked out. The Europeans complete the field of the best remaining eight teams and will be meeting Messi and Argentina on Saturday!

Belgium intercepts the last long bomb and it's a final!

The favorite has to survive another 60 seconds! Green accelerates down the left flank, but his cross can't be kept in play on the far post.

Jermaine Jones has options in front of the box but chooses to send a shot well high. That was too ambitious.

Braaaadley! The States play it short and brilliantly set up the midfielder in front of Courtois, but Bradley can't beat the keeper from close range.

Bulldog Romelu Lukaku muscles through once again, but Howard's left leg thwarts the next goal. Meanwhile, Wilmots makes the final substitution tonight and replaces Hazard, who underperformed.

What in the world is Belgium thinking? They overcommitted on the right side and completely exposed their centre in the last sequence.

Are you kidding me? The USA was as dead as one can be, but suddenly, somehow they find a way to score here.

Goooal for Belgium, 2:0 by Romelu Lukaku
It was only a matter of time judged by the space they had in transition. De Bruyne serves Lukaku from the left, who hammers the ball into the back of the net from eight yards.

As dominant as Belgium has been, their accuracy is atrocious. Lukaku collects another miss in front of Howard.

Jermaine Jones has an effort on goal, but is blocked and also fouled by Jan Vertonghen. Would have been a dangerous position right at the edge of the box, but the official missed the call.

Romelu Lukaku has the next effort inside the box and Howard blocks it for a corner. The injection of the Chelsea man might have been the decisive factor.

Can the US-boys come back from the deficit? They already looked pretty exhausted and now will have invest even more.

At least the first chance belongs to Klinsmann's side as Jones finds himself on the receiving end of a Beasley cross and heads it high.

Marc Wilmots takes off Divock Origi, who had two great chances to score and brings on Lukaku. Both coaches can still make one final substitution.

Second Half Summary:
Belgium was pressing for that decisive goal throughout the second half, but time and time again failed to brilliant goalkeeping by Howard, who's the sole reason why the States are still alive. We are heading into the fifth overtime in eight knockout games. Amazing!

Chris Wondolowski is offside! Wow! Breathtaking turn of events as the substitute suddenly appears in front of Courtois after Jones won the decisive header. He sends the close-ranged effort over the crossbar and the assistant had his flag up anyway.

Even though the favorite might not get the result in regulation, they definitely seem to have more energy going forward.

Alejandro Bedoya outpaces Van Buyten doen the left flank, but superb defending by Vincent Kompany, who anticipates the run of the winger and intercepts him.

Hazard has the next chance for Belgium as he aims for the near post from a tight angle but only hits side-net.

There might be more to come, but we can already say that referee Haimoudi has not been an issue at all. Fine officiating by him and his crew.

After a corner Daniel Van Buyten stays up front and is played behind brilliantly, but he shows why he's not a forward and misses poorly.

The States with a rare counterattack, but DeAndre Yedlin can't get to the diagonal pass from Jones.

Tim Howard makes yet another fine save against Hazard and is the lone reason why we are still level.

Ouch! González sprained his ankle after an aerial duel with Kompany and it looks like the injury woes of Klinsmann continue.

Mirallas simply has to provide the lead here! He is released with a brilliant though-ball, but Howard makes the save with his left foot. Amazing goalkeeping by the Everton man!

Clint Dempsey gets out in transition and has space to the edge of the box. He might have been looking for support on the wings, but decides to fire an own shot on target. Thibaut Courtois dives and buries the ball confidently.

Kevin Mirallas just powers through! He beats multiple defenders down the middle, but is stopped eventually. The ball bounces to an unmarked Origi, who can't beat Tim Howard from 14 yards.

De Bruyne voices some frustration over an offside position, but it was the right decision by the assistant.

Thibaut Courtois has no problems whatsoever to intercept a cross in his six yard box.

Kevin Mirallas creates some space with a neat fake in front of the danger area, but there are just too many defensive legs to squeeze through.

The game has surely picked up some speed in the last minutes. Belgium is trying to force the issue but exposes their defense that way.

On the other end is Graham Zusi, who gets to a cross from the left side and his effort from ten yards is blocked.

Origi hits woodwork! The forward redirects a cross onto goal and his header bounces off the crossbar for a goal kick.

What a chance! Jan Vertonghen curls a dangerous cross alongside the six yard box from the left and both De Bruyne and Divock Origi miss the final touch by inches!

Marouane Fellaini goes for goal from deep and sends his effort well side

Belgium remains the more engaged side early in this half.

Graham Zusi tries to cut to the middle from the right at the edge of the box, but is met by two defenders and get bully through.

We're heading into three minutes of stoppage time as De Bruyne sends an effort from deep straight into Howard's mitts.

Can a team raise the pressure before the half? Kevin De Bruyne swings in a corner but Howard confidently punches it away.

Daniel Van Buyten has to clear dangerous cross from the right to the far post once again, but the tall defender is up to the challenge.

Wilmots' team is surely the more skilled side, but they have to fight for their chances nonetheless.

Michael Bradley is searching for Jones inside the danger area, but Van Buyten wins the aerial duel and heads the ball away.

The corner is controlled by Dempsey with the chest and flicked to Jermaine Jones at the edge of the box. The midfielder releases a wild shot that goes well wide.

USA indeed has to make that early substitution and DeAndre Yedlin takes over on the right wing.

Divock Origi finds space down the left side, has support, but is searching for his own shot. Wrong decision by the Lille man, who runs into a wall of defenders.

USA can't quite get out of their half right now and the fast wingers are more and more causing trouble for Klinsmann's side.

The pace of the game remains high as both sides try to move through midfield as fast as possible.

Dempsey picks up a loose ball at the edge of the box and pokes the ball for the first American on-target effort. No problem for Thibaut Courtois though.

Jan Vertonghen needlessly gives away a corner and the ball nearly slips through to DaMarcus Beasley at the far post. The full back tracks down the ball on the left side, but is dispossessed eventually.

Dries Mertens comes out on top on the right side and whips a low cross into the middle, but defenders are there to intercept.

Judging the last sequence Belgium might not be ungrateful that the States try to facilitate their offense. Other underdogs have widely chosen a very defensive approach to limit the opposition.

The Red Devils try another corner but it comes to nothing.

The USA is mainly operating with long aerial balls, has Klinsmann chosen a traditional kick and rush approach today?

... The Red Devils try to find Divock Origi up front, but the sloppy pass bounces out for a throw-in.

The States are slowly working their way into the match. DaMarcus Beasley accelerates down the left side, but is well challenged by Marouane Fellaini and swings his cross out for a goal-kick.

Belgium surely wastes no time so far. Already the second corner flies into the American danger area and Klinsmann's men must try to settle down a bit.

Stars and Stripes by the way have the majority of support on the stands. Unofficial numbers estimate 20.000 American fans.

Belgium has some adjustment of their own as Steven Defour will miss the match due to his red card against South Korea and Thomas Vermaelen did not recover from a hamstring injury in time. Jan Vertonghen takes over at the back four and Divock Origi replaces the erratic Romelu Lukaku up front. Eden Hazard also moves back into the starting lineup after being granted a breather in the last match with his team already being qualified for the next round.

The lineups are now available here.

So the USA have to like their chances despite labeled underdogs. After all they surprisingly advanced in front of Ronaldo's Portugal in group G. Coach Klinsmann is a known motivator and already achieved a major goal reaching the round of 16. But the pressure is not solely on Belgium's side, because North America has also grown on its soccer team and live coverage of the World Cup is reaching record-breaking numbers in a country normally dominated by other sports.

Belgium emerged as clear winners of group H with nine points, but as many favorites they had difficulties in the group stage winning the games with the difference of just one goal and very late winners in each of their matches. Many expected the Red Devils to make an extended run into the knockout stage with their talented squad, but Marc Wilmots and his team have to improve play today against a resilient American team.