Belgium reached its first World Cup quarter-final after 28 years with an extra-time win over the USA on Tuesday night at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
The match, which was played at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, saw the Belgians putting up a brilliant and breathless display of football art to walk away as deserving 2-1 winners, but only after a performance of incredible spirit and bravery from the US, reports the BBC.
Kevin de Bruyne scored the goal that broke the US resistance in the second minute of extra time. Substitute Romelu Lukaku fired in a second 11 minutes later to apparently end the contest.
The US, however, did not succumb. They rose to find hope with a goal from substitute Julian Green, who volleyed brilliantly past Thibaut Courtois. Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey.
Both sides had chances to take the match to penalties.
That Jurgen Klinsmann's men survived so long owed everything to an outstanding goalkeeping performance by Tim Howard, who made a record number of saves in a World Cup match.
In front of him, his team-mates were simply outclassed.
Belgium will now play Argentina in a mouth-watering quarter-final in Brasilia on Saturday.
Speaking after the win, Belgium coach Marc Wilmots said his side had many opportunities, and had dominated the game.
