Belgium beats USA 2-1, knocks out Americans

SALVADOR, Brazil (KABC) -- Team Belgium beat Team USA 2-1 in extra time in their World Cup match Tuesday at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil. The Belgian team advances to the round of eight to play Argentina. Team USA goes home.

All the goals were scored in extra time. U.S. Goalkeeper Tim Howard had a spectacular game, making 16 saves.

Kevin De Bruyne turned a heroic night for U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard into defeat on Tuesday with an extra-time goal and an assist that gave Belgium a 2-1 victory and a quarterfinal match against Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne scored in extra time.

De Bruyne gave an attacking Belgium the lead in the 93rd minute, finally getting a shot past U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard. Lukaku made it 2-0 in the 105th.

Julian Green then pulled one back for the Americans in the 107th minute, but the Americans couldn't muster another to send the match to a penalty shootout.

Belgium's unyielding attacks for 90 minutes on Tuesday only highlighted the great performance of the 35-year-old Howard, but the goalkeeper's teammates finally wilted in the evening heat once extra time came.

"They were all on their limit," United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "(Howard) had an absolutely amazing match."

In the 105th minute, Belgium looked like it had put the game away. De Bruyne launched Lukaku into open space on the left and the Everton striker beat his club teammate with a drive to the near post.

It wasn't over on a sticky, anxiety-ridden night, however. The Americans got late hope when Green pulled one back in the 107th minute with a sterling volley on the turn that Thibaut Courtois could only touch before he saw it fly into his net.

Suddenly, Klinsmann started wildly shouting with flailing arms "Come on, come on," and there was a new team on the field.

"It was a game that just went to the extreme," Klinsmann said.

Now, it was the Belgium's turn to be caught flat-footed.

With six minutes to go, the Americans almost got the equalizer. A free kick move set Clint Dempsey free in the center with only Courtois to beat. But the Belgium keeper proved he is one of the world's best by spreading his giant body to smother the shot.

"The second extra time was a total turnaround. Suddenly, they had all the energy," De Bruyne said.

With almost no work at all in 120 minutes, Courtois turned out to be more decisive than Howard had been.

With waves of chants of "USA, USA" echoing around the 48,000-seat stadium, the reinvigorated Americans kept searching for a late goal right up until the final whistle.

It never came.

"We just needed a little bit more luck," Klinsmann said.

Belgium had been criticized for its low scoring rate at the World Cup but it was not for want of trying on Tuesday. The team had 27 shots on Howard, compared to nine for the United States.

Amazingly, in the most lopsided knockout game so far, victory came preciously close for the Americans with seconds to go in regulation time when a goalmouth scramble brought the ball to Chris Wondolowski, who skied the ball over from the six-meter line.

It always was going to be a physical battle between the two teams, but Belgium was the only one adding creative touches, underscoring their individual class.

When U.S. President Obama started watching the game in the second half, all he could see was increasing one-way traffic facing his team. Divock Origi hit the bar with a header in the second half, two players totally missed the ball for what would have been a tap in goal and Howard swatted away ever more balls.

"Now," Wilmots said, "Belgium can celebrate."

The game was briefly delayed when a man ran onto the field in the 16th minute and had to be escorted off.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.