Unbeaten across their last five warm-up games for this summer’s FIFA World Cup (W4, D1), co-hosts USA knew a positive start was needed against a star-studded Belgian side. It was the Red Devils, however, who created the first clear-cut opportunity of the contest, with Alexis Saelemaekers firing over from a promising position in the box.
Grateful for that early reprieve, the USA grew into the match, and they could’ve taken the lead themselves, only for Weston McKennie’s close-range effort to be superbly thwarted by Senne Lammens.
Having scored 3+ goals in six of their last nine matches, Belgium continued to threaten in the final third, as Saelemaekers’ low strike was comfortably saved by Matt Turner before Charles De Ketelaere saw a well-taken finish ruled out for a handball in the build-up.
The Stars and Stripes took the lead shortly after, with McKennie finding himself unmarked in the six-yard box to convert from Antonee Robinson’s corner
Undeterred, Belgium restored parity on the stroke of half-time, as Zeno Debast netted his first international goal via a brilliant long-range finish into the bottom corner beyond Turner.
The end-to-end nature of the contest continued into the early stages of the second period, with Christian Pulisic shooting wastefully over from 12 yards.
The hosts were immediately punished for that miss, as Saelemaekers’ clever cutback was clinically swept home by Amadou Onana.
Belgium looked to press home their advantage, and after Jeremy Doku saw a dangerous effort saved by Turner, the visitors were awarded a penalty when Tim Ream was harshly penalised for a handball in the box. De Ketelaere assumed the responsibility from the spot, and the Atalanta man sent Turner the wrong way to extend the Red Devils’ lead.
Armed with all the momentum, Garcia rotated several of his key players with time heading into the final half-hour.
One of those to be introduced, Dodi Lukebakio, got his name on the scoresheet in the 68th minute, as he cut in from the right-hand side of the box and unleashed a spectacular strike into the top corner.
It was a case of damage limitation for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the closing stages, but Belgium remained ruthless in attack, and they added a fifth when Lukébakio powered a loose ball beyond Turner.
A late consolation from Patrick Agyemang, who capitalised on a calamitous mistake from Youri Tielemans, salvaged a sliver of pride for the hosts, but it was a sobering night for the Stars and Stripes, as they fell to their first-ever defeat in the state of Georgia (W2, D2).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Alexis Saelemaekers (Belgium)