Final Whistle: USMNT Gets A Reality Check In 5-2 Loss To Belgium

Saturday’s result hurt on the scoreboard, but it also gave Mauricio Pochettino a clear look at where the Americans can threaten top opposition and where they still fall short.

In front of a crowd of 66,867 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the first of two matches in four days yielded plenty to dislike on the scoreboard, but also plenty for USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino to study after Saturday afternoon’s 5-2 loss to Belgium.

For Pochettino, Matt Turner started in net. Tim Ream wore the captain’s armband in a back line that also included Antonee Robinson and Mark McKenzie, with the idea that Robinson would push higher on the left in attack. Tanner Tessmann dropped deeper from midfield alongside Johnny, while Tim Weah advanced from the right in attacking situations. Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, and Weston McKennie operated underneath Folarin Balogun.

Belgium had plenty to celebrate after putting five goals past the USMNT on Saturday. (photo: Sofia Cupertino for the SDH Network)

For Belgium under Rudi Garcia, Senne Lammens started in net for his second cap ahead of Mats Sels in the goalkeeper competition. The headliners included Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, and Charles De Ketelaere, joined by Zeno Debast, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper, Thomas Meunier, Nicolas Raskin, Amadou Onana, and Alexis Saelemaekers.

One interesting matchday wrinkle: the two sides agreed to a maximum of 11 substitutions, albeit within the customary three substitution windows.

Both teams made early runs in the opening eight minutes. The USMNT found some success going long over the top, including a 7th-minute sequence that ended with a Weah header high over the bar. Another attack down the left had promise, but the weight of the pass was just a bit too strong. Then, off a short corner, Pulisic combined with Antonee Robinson, whose shot from 25 yards out took a slight deflection through traffic.

Lammens reacted well, going full extension for the first big save of the match to keep things scoreless.

Pressure from Pulisic created another opportunity in the 14th minute that went wide of the post in transition, and three minutes later the US had another look off a corner kick.

The ball floated through traffic and bounced kindly for McKennie just outside the six at the far post. His shot forced another Lammens save with a right arm while leaning the other way, sending McKennie’s head into his hands after the missed opportunity.

The match settled down during and after the hydration break, which was not well received by the fans in attendance but served as another practice run for the implementation that will be part of the upcoming World Cup. After a Belgium goal was wiped out for handball following a great reaction save from Turner and the rebound that followed, the USMNT broke through in the 38th minute.

Weston McKennie's goal opened the scoring and his first half performance overall was a highlight for the USMNT. (photo: Sofia Cupertino for the SDH Network)

Off an Antonee Robinson corner, McKennie beat Rangers’ Nicolas Raskin to the ball at the top of the six and volleyed it past Lammens for a 1-0 lead. That advantage lasted until the 45th minute, when Doku blasted a ball that Turner punched clear, but Sporting’s Zeno Debast launched a rocket from 25 yards out on the second chance through traffic. The ball flew past Turner at the far post, and the match was tied 1-1 as Debast scored his first international goal.

Belgium had a few more chances in added time, and Turner had another big save to take into the break.

At halftime, Belgium outshot the US 13-8, but each keeper had three saves and the home side had the only two big chances of the first 45 minutes. Belgium had almost three times as many final-third entries in the first half, 37-14, with only one goal to show for it. When the US was in attack, it forced more recoveries and clearances from the Belgian back line, 24-19 and 11-8.

Forty-Five Minutes To Learn From For Tuesday...

There was only one US substitution to start the second half, with Christian Roldan replacing Johnny.

The first real US chance of the half came in the 52nd minute as Weah showed nice footwork, cutting back to his left. Falling down, he found Pulisic at the edge of the 18, but Pulisic could not turn his hips enough and the shot sailed well wide of the target.

In the 53rd, Amadou Onana scored the go-ahead goal for Belgium, and the margin expanded to 3-1 from the spot a few minutes later.

Turner made two quick reaction saves as Doku drove inside the 18 against Weah to start the pressure. A penalty kick was called when Tim Ream was judged to have touched the ball with an outstretched arm. De Ketelaere converted, as VAR did not have enough evidence to overturn the decision on the field.

Belgium added a fourth in the 68th minute as Meunier came forward and laid the ball off to Benfica’s Dodi Lukebakio. He cut onto his left, created space against new entry Max Arfsten, and fired the ball into the far netting for Belgium’s third goal in 15 minutes.

The US forced another Lammens save with 10 minutes to go after another triple sub from Pochettino. The US defense cleared away another Belgian rush in the 82nd minute, but the second chance fell to Lukebakio after a deflection, and he scored his brace to make it 5-1.

A mistake at the back by Belgium created the USMNT’s second goal a few minutes later. Ricardo Pepi stepped in front of a Youri Tielemans pass inside the Belgian 18-yard box, and Patrick Agyemang slotted the ball past Lammens in the 87th minute to make it 5-2.

Belgium’s control showed up more and more as the afternoon wore on. The final numbers underlined it: Belgium finished with 21 shots to the USMNT’s 12, put 10 on target, completed 90 passes in the final third, and recorded 38 touches in the opposition box. The United States had moments, especially in the first half and on set pieces, but not enough sustained control once Belgium found another gear after the break.

That is the part Pochettino will care about most heading into Tuesday. This match showed the US can create danger, but it also showed how quickly good stretches can disappear against a team with Belgium’s quality. The response now is the story: defend transitions better, survive the difficult moments with more composure, and make the promising stretches last longer than they did Saturday in Atlanta.