The USMNT began their final World Cup preparations with a match against Belgium on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. The US had the better of the chances early on with Weston McKennie having a great look that was somehow saved by Senne Lammens. McKennie didn’t miss again later as Jedi Robinson served up a nice corner that Weston put home.
Unfortunately, once again the lead wouldn’t last long as Belgium scored six minutes later to tie up the came just before the half. Cristian Roldan would come on as a substitute
at the half for Johnny Cardoso, who hadn’t looked poor to that point but perhaps this was a planned rotation.
Christian Pulisic looked sharper to start the second half with some nice movement in the box to find a shot that he sent high. However, moments later it was Belgium finding the back of the net again as some slow reactions on defense let Onana put a second past Matt Turner. It was pretty much all downhill from there. In the 57th minute it was Tim Ream inexplicably flapping his arms around, which may or may not have been hit by the ball on the way through, but the penalty was given and Belgium put a third past Matt Turner.
The waves of substitutes started in the 63rd minute with Sebastian Berhalter, Alex Freeman, and Max Arfsten taking the field.
In the 67th Lukebakio easily skipped around Arfsten and curled a very nice shot into the top corner as Belgium made it 4-1 and in the 82nd meeting more slow defensive reactions led to a fifth.
Between those two goals Gio Reyna, Ricardo Pepi, Joe Scally, and Patrick Ageymang all joined the festivities in the 69th minute as the teams were taking their second hydration break of the day since there were only 11 subs available on the day in their climate controlled environment.
The US did get a second, consolation goal late in the match as Ricardo Pepi’s high press forced a turnover which he laid off to Agyemang who slammed it home.
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