World Cup: Serie A stars De Ketelaere and Lukaku on the scoresheet as Belgium eliminate USMNT - video

DANIEL MATTHEWS IN SEATTLE: It turns out Donald Trump was worried about the wrong striker. In an extraordinary intervention that cast a long shadow over the biggest game in US soccer history‚ the president had lobbied FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to allow the suspended Folarin Balogun to face Belgium. How much influence that call had‚ we may never know. In the end‚ though‚ it made little difference. Because‚ even though Balogun was controversially cleared to play‚ it was Belgian striker Charles De Ketelaere who decided this World Cup showdown. The 25-year-old scored two goals and helped create another as Belgium broke American hearts and shattered the co-hosts' World Cup dreams in the round of 16. De Ketelaere was given a huge helping hand by Mauricio Pochettino's players who‚ after weeks of promise and brilliance‚ put in a calamitous display. Balogun drew a blank before Romelu Lukaku profited from a final defensive lapse to seal a 4-1 win. What a dismal end to a magical few weeks. Good luck overturning this one‚ Mr President.

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