USMNT – Sports Radio Service

By: Joe Lami

It took 93 minutes for the first goal of the game to be scored, as the last Round of 16 matchup took extra time between the United States and Belgium. This was most part due to an amazing performance by American Goalkeeper, Tim Howard, who recorded 16 saves in the loss, the most recorded in any World Cup match ever. However, it was not enough, as Belgium eliminates the Americans 2-1.

“It’s heartbreaking,” added Howard after the game.

Belgium dominated almost the entire match, having a total of 37 shots, outshooting the Americans 37-10, with an advantage of 16-3 with shots on target. Belgium also had the advantage in corner kicks 17-4.

It looked for a while that as long as Howard kept them in the game, the United States would get a chance to win, and they did in the closing minutes of the match. Chris Wondolowski, of the San Jose Earthquakes, would receive a through ball in the middle of the box. As one of the best strikers and finishers on the team had the game on his foot, he put the attempt just over the crossbar, which would eventually send the match into extra time.

In extra time, Belgium would jump on the board almost instantly, as Kevin De Bruyne sent one past the left side of Howard for the first goal of the match in the 93^rd minute. Belgium would get the next one just 12 minutes later, when Romelu Lukaku would have his third attempt get past Howard. Belgium once again found the bottom left corner of the net on the goal to go up 2-0 to end the first half of extra time.

The second half of extra time was completely owned by the United States, and it all started when an absolute amazing goal was scored by the youngest player on the American roster in Julian Green. Green one touched volleyed on a lob from Michael Bradley to pull within one in the 107^th minute, the latest goal the U.S. has ever scored in a World Cup. The goal added life to the Americans, as they tried their best to find the equalizer, but it just wasn’t there, as the Belgians were able to hold on for the victory.

Coming into the match the U.S. was 31^st out of the 32 teams in the opening rounds of the World Cup in possession, making it a concern coming into the Round of 16. It was something that had improved in the match versus Belgium, but not nearly as good as it needed to be.

This World Cup has brought soccer to the main stage in American sports, and had the country go crazy for the short stint. Hopefully, it can continue and bring the United States closer to becoming a soccer country.

Belgium will move on to the Quarterfinals to take on Argentina, who defeated Switzerland 1-0 in the other Round of 16 match earlier today.

By: Joe Lami

The United States Men’s National Team did what many believed wouldn’t happen on Thursday and made it out of the group of death to advance to the Round of Sixteen after a 1-0 loss to Germany. The advance in the World Cup is happening because of a 2-1 win for Portugal over Ghana.

Both the United States and Portugal ended the round robin portion of the tournament with four points each, but the United States had the advantage with goal differential. The U.S. had an even goal differential through the first three games, where Portugal was (-3) minus three.

Germany owned most of the game, out possessing the United States 67% to 33%. The ownership in possession showed ad Germany outshot the Americans 13-4 with a 6-0 advantage in shots on goal. The Germans showed they were the better team in just the opening minutes as the United States hardly had ownership of the ball, and one would begin to worry if the Germans were going to blow out the Americans.

The United States would be able to hold the Germans off of the scoreboard in the first half however with some remarkable play on the back end, especially from Centerback, Omar Gonzalez. Gonzalez had multiple tackles inside the penalty box to knock away German chances.

Germany would get on the scoreboard in the Second Half, when Thomas Muller would find the right side of the net on a shot at the top of the 18-yard box. The play happened off of a corner kick, when a German player headed one towards goal when American keeper, Tim Howard would make the save. However, the rebound found the right foot of Muller for his second goal of the World Cup.

The Americans did have a couple good scoring chances in the second half, but none of them came to fruition, as the game ended in a 1-0 win for Germany.

It would be a different story if Portugal didn’t defeat Ghana 2-1. Ghana was pushing Portugal in the last 20 minutes of the game with a 1-1 score line. A win for Ghana would have put them into the Round of Sixteen with a better goal differential than the US. Christino Ronaldo however ended Ghana’s chances when he put a rebound home in the 80^th minute to help the United States survive the scare.

The group stages are coming to an end, and the Americans have made it through the group of death, with the standings being: Germany (7 Points, +5), United States (4 Points, +/-0), Portugal (4 Points, -3), and Ghana (1 Point, -2).

Up next for the Americans is their Round of Sixteen matchup, as they will take on the winners of Group H, most likely Belgium, who has already advanced through two games.