Belgium turned a level halftime score into a ruthless second-half statement on Saturday, beating the United States 5-2 in an entertaining international friendly at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The hosts looked in decent shape when Weston McKennie opened the scoring in the 39th minute, and for a brief spell the United States had the crowd believing they could see out the first half in front. But Belgium struck at a crucial moment through Zeno Debast in the 45th minute, and that equalizer changed the feel of the fixture entirely.
From there, the visitors were clinical. Amadou Onana put Belgium ahead in the 53rd minute, Charles De Ketelaere added a penalty in the 59th minute, and Dodi Lukebakio took over late with goals in the 68th and 82nd minutes as Belgium sliced through the American defense after the break. Patrick Agyemang pulled one back in the 87th minute, but by then the match had long since slipped away from the home side.
The first half had been competitive and open. The United States edged possession with 51.8 percent and matched Belgium on corners at six apiece, but the visitors always looked dangerous whenever they accelerated through midfield and attacked the space behind the American back line. Belgium finished with 21 shots and 10 on target, compared with 12 shots and five on target for the United States, and those numbers told the story of a side that found another gear in the second period.
McKennie’s opener in the 39th minute was the bright spot for the Americans, rewarding a positive first-half spell. Yet conceding on the stroke of halftime to Debast in the 45th minute felt like a major setback, and Belgium emerged from the interval sharper, cleaner in possession, and far more decisive in the final third.
Onana’s goal in the 53rd minute gave Belgium real control, and De Ketelaere’s penalty on 59′ widened the gap just as the United States were trying to settle. Once Lukebakio made it 4-1 in the 68th minute, the friendly had the feel of damage limitation for the hosts rather than a genuine comeback bid. His second in the 82nd minute underlined Belgium’s cutting edge and capped an excellent cameo.
Agyemang’s 87th-minute finish at least gave the United States something to show for their late pressure, but there was no disguising the overall picture. Belgium were more efficient, more dangerous between the lines, and far more punishing when chances arrived on the pitch.
For the United States, this was one of those friendlies that offers as many warnings as lessons. There were encouraging moments going forward, and McKennie’s influence remained evident, but the defensive structure unraveled badly after halftime. Belgium, by contrast, will leave Atlanta pleased with both the result and the manner of it, having shown depth, composure, and plenty of attacking variety.
Scorers: United States – Weston McKennie 39′, Patrick Agyemang 87′. Belgium – Zeno Debast 45′, Amadou Onana 53′, Charles De Ketelaere 59′ (pen), Dodi Lukebakio 68′, 82′.
