Romelu Lukaku signed his name FIFA World Cup record when Belgium advanced to the quarter-finals with a 4-1 victory over the United States, becoming the first player to be substituted in four different World Cup games.The striker came off the bench at the end of the second half and needed just one shot to make it clear, scoring Belgium’s fourth goal in stoppage time to grab another brutal finish. It also added to the incredible run of the veteran striker, who has scored with just one shot in his last three World Cup matches – against New Zealand, Senegal and the United States.While Charles De Ketelaere stole the headlines with two goals and an assist, Lukaku’s late strike made it into the record books as Belgium set up a quarter-final clash against Spain.Romelu Lukaku in his last three World Cup matches
- vs New Zealand: 1 shot, 1 goal
- vs Senegal: 1 shot, 1 goal
- vs USA: 1 shot, 1 goal
Belgium punishes defensive mistakes
The United States were embroiled in controversy over the presence of Folarin Balogun after FIFA sparked controversy over his one-match ban, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side never recovered from a series of defensive errors.Belgium took the lead in the eighth minute when De Ketelaere finished off a move before Malik Tillman responded briefly with the winner in the 31st minute.The celebrations did not last a minute. Just 61 seconds into the restart, De Ketelaere put Belgium ahead before turning over Hans Vanaken, whose effort followed a costly foul from goalkeeper Matt Freese early in the second half.Lukaku, who was subbed off in the 67th minute, finished the game in stoppage time after Chris Richards was brought down, and calmly completed his 93rd international goal.
Pochettino rues missed opportunities
The defeat ended another promising World Cup campaign for the hosts, who also fell at the Round of 16 hurdle.“Everybody saw from the beginning that we didn’t get along in the game,” US coach Mauricio Pochettino said after the game. “It’s a learning process. We have to analyze the game and we have to see why we didn’t approach this game in the same way as (we approached) the other World Cup games.”The defeat also deepened the anti-American culture. The USA have now been eliminated in the Round of 16 in six of their seven FIFA World Cup appearances, including each of their last four.Belgium, meanwhile, reached an 18-game unbeaten run and went on to meet 2010 champions Spain in the quarter-finals.For Lukaku, however, the night was historic. A substitute appearance, one shot and one goal was all he needed to become the first substitute in four FIFA World Cup games, underlining why he remains one of the most destructive players in world football.
