Usmnt Has Defense Exposed In Rout By Belgium

ATLANTA — Belgium blew retired nan United States 5-2 connected Saturday successful a World Cup warmup that exposed nan Americans’ protect difficulties, rallying from a precocious first-half shortage connected 2 goals by Dodi Lukébakio and 1 each from Zeno Debast, Amadou Onana and Charles De Ketelaere.

Weston McKennie put nan U.S. up successful nan 39th infinitesimal pinch his 12th world goal, his first successful 3 years, but Debast and Onana began Belgium’s rally pinch their first world goals connected a frustrating day for Matt Turner, nan erstwhile No. 1 American goalkeeper who made his first quality since past June.

Debast scored successful nan 45th, Onana put nan Red Devils up successful nan 53rd and De Ketelaere converted a punishment footwear successful nan 59th aft a manus shot by U.S. skipper Tim Ream.

Lukébakio entered successful nan 62nd infinitesimal and hit Turner from agelong scope successful nan 68th and 82nd minutes to build a 5-1 lead earlier a disappointed mostly pro-American crowd of 66,867 astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium, tract of a World Cup semifinal successful July.

Patrick Agyemang scored for nan U.S. successful nan 87th aft Ricardo Pepi took advantage of protect misplay.

The U.S. mislaid a location crippled by 3 goals successful which it scored nan opening extremity for nan first clip since an 8-1 conclusion to England successful 1959, according to Opta.

Belgium extended its unbeaten streak to 10 games and has won six consecutive against nan U.S. since losing to nan Americans astatine nan first World Cup successful 1930.

The U.S. had entered pinch a five-game unbeaten streak that created optimism but was missing respective injured regulars.

McKennie put nan Americans up erstwhile he took advantage of Johnny Cardoso’s prime to trim successful beforehand of Nicolas Raskin and volley Antonee Robinson’s area footwear past Senne Lammens.

American players debuted jerseys pinch reddish and achromatic stripes that lucifer a waving flag.

With nan tile closed successful an air-conditioned stadium, fans booed nan h2o breaks successful nan mediate of each half — which will return spot astatine each World Cup match.

Belgium was missing striker Romelu Lukaku, midfielders Leandro Trossard and Hans Vanaken and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois because of injuries and fittingness issues. The Red Devils play Mexico successful Chicago connected Tuesday.