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00:00He's just floating a little bit more, and just lends the ball wide.
00:05He was losing his balance a little bit here, but does so well as he cuts back and sees that
00:09he's got a double-team coming just to get this ball to Pulisic.
00:12And just look how quick, I love that little feint as he makes it look like he's gonna go off
00:16his, outside of his right of his, outside of his right foot.
00:20Watch this, this is just so quick, so dynamic, and he gets it onto that left foot right there.
00:24It's lovely, he just doesn't catch it the way he wants to.
00:27Here comes to Bruyne, Doku down the left side.
00:30Cattellera is in the middle, if Doku can find him, Doku against McKenzie.
00:36And now it's Ananda, it's 2-1 Belgium.
00:46Amadou Ananda with his first international goal.
00:58And just, right here, McKenzie, he does a good job of slowing Doku down, and he gets a challenge on
01:06there.
01:06It just falls right here as the U.S. are crowding.
01:09And you wonder if Tillman can slide and hit the ground.
01:11You know, at this point, as that ball's coming out, the best way you can try to make this block
01:15is just go to ground.
01:16Right here.
01:17And it just goes right through his legs.
01:21And you can see Matt Turner, I mean, nothing he can do about that.
01:23He's trying to set his feet, he's sliding across.
01:25And he's just well outside of his reach.
01:28And just, Tillman, you wonder if he goes and hits ground.
01:32And he's definitely making the block and forcing another touch out of Ananda.
01:36And Turner furious.
01:40Matt Turner beaten by the 24-year-old Aston Villa midfielder.
01:47In his second year with Villa after a couple of years at Everton.
01:51Played every minute of all four games for Belgium at Euro 2024.
01:56They lost 1-0 to France in the round of 16 in that tournament.
02:01Beaten by a Vertonghen-owned goal in the 85th minute, having finished second in the group at the Euros.
02:10Weyer with this ball hoisted high in towards the back post.
02:13Anthony Robinson just keeping it in play.
02:15He's got support from Tillman there on the far side.
02:18Salamancus closes down.
02:23Pulisic.
02:25Really well done by Christian Pulisic as he pulls this one back.
02:29Anthony Robinson battling for it.
02:30Drops towards Pulisic!
02:34And the flag is up on the near side for offside.
02:39Well, Christian Pulisic rowing into the game a little bit.
02:42Floating, trying to find those little pockets between the lines.
02:45Here's a look at it.
02:47Just lovely change of pace and a little bit ahead of Anthony Robinson and clearly in an offside position as
02:53it gets toe-poked through.
02:59Brian Dunstap at the beginning of the game was talking about, I think it was six players, how many players
03:03played in that World Cup against the Netherlands.
03:07This kind of feels a little bit like that game.
03:09A world power that's fine sitting back, fine seeing what the U.S. can do and just being devastating on
03:15the counter-attack.
03:17Pulisic's goal through Balogun.
03:20Now McKinney finds Ware!
03:27World wide by Tim Ware.
03:32He goes for the laces in power.
03:34And you can see it comes off the side of his foot.
03:38Christian Pulisic was in the center, wonder if he'd go in the instep and just fire it on the ground.
03:44Good opportunity there for Tim Ware.
03:46Ware back in the squad having not been around for those games against Paraguay and Uruguay in November.
03:52Started both games in October against Ecuador in Australia.
03:56Here's Doku down the left side.
03:59Doku against Ware.
04:01Doku's pulled in, gets the return.
04:03It's Doku all the way through and Turner with a big save!
04:05And Turner once again!
04:07What a stop for Matt Turner!
04:11But the referee, I think, has pointed at the penalty spot for a handball!
04:17Is it Tim Ream?
04:19It looked like it took a little deflection as it comes through to Matt Turner.
04:28I mean, what about this ball?
04:31Oh boy!
04:33The best!
04:34That's about as good.
04:34I mean, obviously, he had that strike with the goal.
04:36That's a wonderful, world-class ball.
04:38I mean, what about this one, too?
04:40It's just absolutely lovely.
04:41And Turner comes up with a huge save!
04:44And you can see, it's a handball.
04:46Yeah, watch, watch his left arm, Tim Ream.
04:48It just goes up right here.
04:50Yeah.
04:53Look, does it hit his hand?
04:56I don't know.
04:57VAR today.
04:58I don't know if that touches his arm.
05:02That look, that look tells you maybe it does.
05:06I don't know.
05:08I don't know if that touches his arm.
05:09You know, but you could see the ball.
05:11And look at that Nike switch.
05:13It changes directions at one point.
05:14And you just wonder what created that deflection.
05:17The VAR thinks it isn't a penalty.
05:20So Tatiana Guzman of Nicaragua sending Esteban Ostojic of Uruguay to the screen.
05:27It might have just came off the backside of his thigh.
05:31And that's what created that deflection.
05:37I mean, there's definitely not a look that we saw that made it definitely a handball.
05:41But just watch, watch.
05:42I think maybe on the backside as he's twisting.
05:45Right here as he's twisting, I think he catches that ball on the way down.
05:48I'm looking at the ref right now.
05:50He's right in front of me looking at the VAR.
05:52And he's nodding yes.
05:53Yeah, I think right there.
05:55I think it just glances the underside of his arm right here, Melissa.
05:59And you can see just the design of the ball.
06:01That Nike switch, it just changes right there.
06:04It goes down and spins on a different axis.
06:07He gave a pen.
06:08There's not really enough to overturn it.
06:10There's nothing that says it's definitely not a handball.
06:12Yeah.
06:14I got Brad Guzman looking over my shoulder.
06:16What do you say?
06:17No pen?
06:18Of course you would say that.
06:19Of course you would say that.
06:21But great save.
06:21He says, no pen but great save.
06:23It's just, it's so tough.
06:25It's so tough to tell.
06:28Yeah.
06:30I don't think then.
06:33I mean, when he twists his body, it almost masks it where you can't, you can't see.
06:41It's just, it's so hard to know.
06:44It's so hard to know.
06:46It's so hard to know.
06:47His reaction is the only thing that maybe gives you a hint.
06:51It's a handball.
06:53It's not conclusive enough with that replay to reverse it though.
06:58The Catalera against Matt Turner.
07:02With a chance to give Belgium a two goal advantage.
07:11The Catalera scores.
07:15It's 3-1 Belgium.
07:23The Catalera, emphatic from this spot.
07:30I mean, it's an amazing save from Turner.
07:32I'll say that.
07:33Handball or no handball.
07:35And then this is just too, too smooth.
07:41Turner just thinking he'll close his hips with that left foot.
07:44And bring that ball to Turner's left.
07:47He just watches it go in the net.
07:49And after a really good start to this match, you have to say it's just Doku.
07:53Doku has just become an absolute menace.
07:57And the boys were talking about it on the set.
07:59We were all saying, I mean, it's really going to be about how do you neutralize that threat.
08:03And for much of the first half, the U.S. had it locked down and Doku's just come alive.
08:09From here, we're looking like we're going to see changes on the U.S. side.
08:12Sebastian Berhalter, Alex Freeman and Max Arvston ready to take the field.
08:18And five changes coming for Rudy Garcia's Belgium as well, including Lois Apenda.
08:26with Bakio coming in.
08:31Also Nathan Ungoye.
08:40So as we pass the hour mark here, both sides making major changes.
08:44McKennie trying to get a flick on there.
08:45This will be cleared away by Mounier up down that right side to Salamakas.
08:48Salamakas in the battle with Tillman.
08:51.
08:57.
08:58.
09:16So here come the changes.
09:19We mentioned earlier 11 changes allowed today in this game.
09:25Belgium making five at once.
09:32Off comes De Kuyper.
09:38Kensei is coming in.
09:44Devinta, Luc Bacchio, Appando, and Angoye.
09:48The player is being brought on here by Rudy Garcia.
09:55Is this a harsh scoreline on the US?
09:58No.
10:01We just mentioned that this Netherlands team, a lot of people like to call them a possession team.
10:06A lot of people like to look at them and their skill and their ability on the ball.
10:09A lot of times this Belgian team has no problem sitting, countering, and just in transition.
10:16They've been ruthless.
10:19We went over the stats.
10:20They have not only a lot of attempts, a lot of really high quality attempts.
10:24And the most ruthless is definitely Jeremy Doku on that left-hand side.
10:29It's been a handful this entire game.
10:30I think first half, 42 touches, six 1v1 attempts.
10:34And so far, eight 1v1, but only three successful.
10:39But that danger that he creates, whether it's successful or not successful, is what really affects the defensive line of
10:45the US.
10:46Yeah, absolutely.
10:46I mean, it's the collapse on him that happens even in that last effort where McKenzie does a good job
10:51to deflect the ball away.
10:52It's just how out of shape you are when you go over to handle them.
11:02US Soccer on TNT Sports is presented by Volkswagen.
11:07Live life in the driver's seat.
11:10So here comes the triple change for the United States.
11:13Sebastian Berhalter, Max Arfsten, and Alex Freeman coming in.
11:18Anthony Robinson makes way.
11:21He got an assist today on McKenny's goal.
11:24Tim Ware also coming out, so...
11:27Changes on either side of that back line, and Tanner Tessman leaves the game.
11:32Obviously, the scoreline tough. Anthony Robinson looked really good.
11:35You know, I wonder, it would have been a big tactical change.
11:38I was at Craven Cottage a season ago and watched Anthony Robinson go against Doku.
11:43Did really well on the day, handling him.
11:45You know, you wonder if at one point where Doku was getting in the game,
11:48maybe you throw Anthony Robinson over there to deal with him.
11:51But all in all, great to see Robinson back fit, having a good performance.
11:57Berhalter on the ball now in the midfield as he plays it out towards Ream on the far side.
12:02Sebastian Berhalter, Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder, coming in for his tenth cap.
12:08He had his debut in the loss against Switzerland in June of last year.
12:12A couple of assists in five starts at the Gold Cup.
12:18Had a goal and an assist. His first international strike against Uruguay to finish out the year in Tampa.
12:28Tillman's ball out wide to the far side.
12:31Halston of Columbus rolls it back.
12:34Cross it for McKenzie.
12:56So the players leaving for Belgium, De Bast, De Kuyper, De Catalera up top who scored that penalty.
13:04Salamakas as well.
13:09I'm sure US fans would have liked to see that number 11 go up for Belgium.
13:13But he's still out there.
13:16Doku has been at times unplayable.
13:31Doku turning.
13:32He's been robbed there and the referee gets the free kick.
13:36Tillman furious.
13:47Well it looked like a foul in real time.
13:49And nothing there so far.
13:50It was just right here where he goes to shield the ball.
13:52I mean he definitely takes out his plant foot.
14:06Lomans then gets things going and the pressure coming from Tillman as it's played all the way across the back
14:11there from Ngoi.
14:12Pulisic chasing to keep it in play at the touch side on the far side.
14:19Ngoi back to defend here.
14:21He's played all the way back for Max Arfston.
14:23That cross will be clipped in towards Balogun at the penalty spot.
14:26Away as far as Doku here.
14:28Who looks to try and create something going forward for Belgium.
14:32And Goy's ball down the left side and he couldn't quite pick out Sace.
14:40You know it's just a little interesting and I'm a big Sebastian Berhalter fan.
14:44But you need two goals.
14:46Gio Reyna like if you're thinking World Cup and why Gio Reyna would be at the World Cup.
14:49It's for exact situations like this.
14:51And obviously you know he's not kind of treated exactly that way.
14:55Eleven substitutions isn't happening in the World Cup.
14:57But it's a half an hour that you give a player that absolutely has the type of quality to get
15:02you.
15:03You know back in this game so just...
15:05I can't say it's a poor decision just an interesting decision.
15:10Looks like five more changes coming for Belgium.
15:13Including Axel, Witzel and Jurek Tielemans.
15:18Ngoi with a high ball across to that far side.
15:2222 year old defender from Lille.
15:25One of the changes made here by Rudi Garcia as Belgium come forward down the right side with Mounier.
15:32Doku wanted it.
15:33And the ball goes all the way from that right side straight in.
15:38It didn't need to come back to Doku.
15:43Look back here with a superb strike.
15:46And Belgium have fought.
15:57That's kind of the theme of the day, right?
15:59These isolated 1v1 positions.
16:02Wide.
16:03Look back here.
16:04At this point when he picks up the ball.
16:07It's just so easy for him.
16:08Gets in on that left foot.
16:10And Norris is nowhere near him.
16:12I mean he's got to cheat him down that line.
16:14And you can see his all left foot.
16:15He wants it there.
16:16And just really poor defending from Arsene.
16:18Lets him in on his favorite foot.
16:20And then that's a lovely finish.
16:25Those isolated 1v1 positions.
16:27Just the help.
16:28In the first half hour it was there.
16:30And since then.
16:31They just haven't had an answer.
16:33For a win.
16:35These Belgian players put their head down.
16:37And take them on 1v1.
16:38I mean beautiful skill.
16:40Great pace.
16:40But just too easy getting on that left foot.
16:50Well at one point it looked as if.
16:53Luke Pacquiao would try and pick out somebody else.
16:56But he only had.
16:57That top corner on his mind.
16:59And what a finish it was.
17:06As we're into a cooling break here.
17:12And all of a sudden.
17:14This has got a little out of control.
17:16For the United States.
17:26More changes coming now.
17:28For Belgium.
17:30And a couple as well.
17:32For the United States.
17:33As Gio Reyna gets set to come in.
17:34In fact we'll see Riccardo Pepe.
17:36And I think Joe Scali as well.
17:43Patrick Adjeman as well.
17:45Coming in.
17:55For the captain's armband.
17:57For Belgium.
17:58Gets handed towards Juri Tielemans.
18:01Aston Villa.
18:02Player who has appeared at the last two World Cups.
18:05And the last two Euros.
18:06He's played for his country for a decade.
18:11Bringing on 37 year old Axel Witzel.
18:14Who has the second most caps for Belgium.
18:17Behind Jan Vertonghen.
18:19Witzel at 1.34.
18:20Vertonghen.
18:22At 1.57.
18:25Witzel made his debut all the way back in 2008.
18:28And here comes Gio Reyna.
18:32What can he do here for the final 20 minutes?
18:35Would have to be pretty heroic.
18:43Riccardo Pepe coming in.
18:45For the United States.
18:46The 23 year old.
18:47From El Paso, Texas.
18:50The PSV man.
18:51Coming on for his 35th cap.
18:54And the look on the face of Christian Pulisic says it all.
19:01The first half that was.
19:04Fairly even.
19:06The first half in which Weston McKennie.
19:08Gave the United States the lead.
19:12Only to see Belgium tied up just before half time.
19:15And then score.
19:17Three more times after the break.
19:20It feels a little bit.
19:22Remember that game in Hartford we did against Germany.
19:25Yeah.
19:26Feels a little bit like that moment.
19:29Where we saw a really bright US.
19:30I mean Christian Pulisic scores a beautiful.
19:33Goal in that game.
19:34And then just.
19:36Class.
19:36Class.
19:37And also in wide positions.
19:381v1 players.
19:39That were just.
19:40Tearing the US apart that day in Connecticut.
19:47So wholesale changes from both coaches.
19:50As we're into the final 20 minutes here.
19:53In Atlanta.
19:57Patrick Adjuman coming in as well.
20:00Having had a good season in the championship.
20:02The former.
20:03Charlotte man making the move to England.
20:05With Derby County.
20:11He appeared in 12 games last year.
20:14And had five goals for the United States in 2025.
20:20One.
20:21One thing today.
20:22Says that's not surprising.
20:24Is.
20:24Just how important.
20:26Chris Richards is to this side.
20:28Has a little bit of a knock.
20:30And we chatted with him the other day.
20:31But.
20:32He makes a big difference.
20:34To go back on.
20:35Reina just slips there.
20:36And Witzel tries to get a foot to it.
20:39Picked up once again by Gio Reina.
20:51Reina admitting that.
20:54Could be a bit of a controversial decision.
20:56For Maurizio Pochettino to name him in the squad.
20:59Due to his lack of playing time.
21:00Said of course it's always easier to come to.
21:04Play for your country.
21:05When you are getting regular minutes.
21:06But Maurizio Pochettino.
21:08Was very happy with what Gio Reina contributed to this group.
21:12In that international window.
21:14Those two wins in the fall.
21:16In November against Paraguay and Uruguay.
21:19As Angoy.
21:21Puts that one out of play.
21:22It'll be a corner here for the United States.
21:25And Sebastian Berhalter quickly across.
21:27To come and take corner number five.
21:29Once past five.
21:29All by the top five.
21:41Yeah!jalter
21:42already. With a
21:42couple of goals. Four assists
21:44in the league so far. That season.
21:46For Vancouver.
21:49That come for
21:50Roldan.
21:51who came on for Cardoso at half-time, couldn't quite find the head of Gio Reyna there as it's headed
21:55away by Castagne.
21:59Castagne, another one of the experienced players on the Belgian bench that came on
22:03with those big changes, team-mates of Anthony Robinson's at Fulham.
22:15Castagne going 90 minutes in a 3-1 win against Burnley
22:18in his first Premier League start since early February, just before the break.
22:24Laid across the back there by Alex Freeman.
22:29Freeman with a change of clubs in the off-season, making the move from Orlando to Villarreal,
22:34the MLS Young Player of the Year last year.
22:44Berhalter, back now for Riem.
22:48Mackenzie's ball down the right side and put inside there by Arfston.
22:55Berhalter turns and tries to play this one through.
23:00Arfston just looking to keep it in play by the corner flag, but it rolls out here for a US
23:04throw.
23:11And it's Alex Freeman coming forward to take this one here from the back.
23:21Freeman's 14th cap launches it one long towards Adjeman, couldn't quite get there as
23:26this ball is hoisted high, Berhalter gets ahead to it.
23:29Bitzel will look to clear it away.
23:30Neat play there as the referee just takes out
23:35Tielemans.
23:39I wasn't going to get to that anyway.
23:49That's unlucky for the US, I mean, Tielemans, that ball is definitely heading out in front of him.
23:59All the way back towards Lovins, who made a couple of big stops in the first half when the score
24:04was still nil-nil.
24:05Looking for Luke Pacquiao, who had that wonderful finish for the fourth goal.
24:1266,867, the crowd inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
24:16Portugal to come here.
24:19On Tuesday night, the second game of this international window here in Atlanta for the US.
24:29Berhalter loses out to Bitzel.
24:32And then just as Nikagots was getting ready to carry that one forward,
24:36the referee blows the whistle for the free kick for the United States.
24:41He just catches his plant foot right there.
24:44Berhalter has been a spark for sure.
24:46Trying to get on the ball and all these tight spaces,
24:49had a lovely little ball over the top that almost made it to Adjeman.
24:56Freeman down the right side.
25:02This is Reyna.
25:04Gio Reyna plays forward towards Adjeman.
25:07He's got Pepe in there, but Ricardo Pepe couldn't get on the end of it
25:10as it rolls through towards Lovins.
25:23Tielemans in the heart of the Belgian midfield, picked up here by Riem.
25:29Reina.
25:32Scali to his right, Freeman playing in a more advanced role.
25:39And here's Riem.
25:45Arfston pushing that one forward down the left side, and...
25:49there defending was Ducat.
25:52Tipped by Riem once again for the United States here.
25:5613 minutes plus stoppage time remaining in Atlanta,
25:59as Reyna rolls this one back for Joe Scali.
26:03Scali, the Borussia Mönchengladbach defender,
26:06was in the World Cup squad in Qatar, but didn't play.
26:10This one's taken quickly by Berhalter out wide to the far side for Adjeman.
26:14He's got support from Arfston, runs at Lubaccio over there on that far side.
26:20Adjeman plays it back for Berhalter.
26:23This is Scali.
26:28Freeman.
26:30And he's done well there to win the corner as the challenge came in from Seis.
26:34It's a sixth corner of the game for the United States.
26:37Freeman hasn't had the minutes he would have liked of late
26:40since making the move to Villarreal.
26:47Good play in a win against Real Sociedad last week.
26:54Rolled down.
26:56Reyna.
27:01Alex Freeman in the squad for nine games since his move in January 2,
27:05Villarreal, just 38 minutes played.
27:08He gets the chance today for the closing stages here.
27:11Maurizio Pochettino's side, Berhalter hoisted in back post,
27:14trying to find Pepe as it comes out to Arshton.
27:17Close down by Lubaccio.
27:18Arshton's ball in.
27:26Alex Freeman said that the last eight to ten months
27:29has been absolutely life-changing for him, of course,
27:31with that move to Villarreal.
27:33Despite the lack of minutes, he says he's learning things every day
27:36from playing such a high level in the competitiveness
27:39and really fine-tuning his technical abilities.
27:43Hopefully we can see something in these minutes he's getting in today's match
27:46and as he's trying to solidify that World Cup roster spot.
27:50given away by Tielemans as Ajermann plays it back for Scali,
27:53now it's Berhalter across towards Roldan.
27:56Arshton in space on the far side.
27:59As Tanya goes to close down as that crosses deep in towards the back,
28:08downfield it goes there from Seiz, the Bruges defender.
28:13Roldan sticks ahead in and back it goes as Reem helps the ball towards Matt Turner.
28:19Turner's last start.
28:22back in June also saw four goals conceded in that 4-0 loss in Nashville against Switzerland.
28:30Witzel.
28:33Witzel, one of two players in this Belgium squad
28:36along with De Bruyne that played in the 2014 World Cup
28:41as well as 2018 and 2022.
28:48Luke Pacquiao.
28:54And going.
28:57Seiz, down the left side for Gotts, the Ajax man is pulled back there by Scali, that's probably a yellow.
29:09So 10 minutes to go here.
29:15Lovely little move there, just hesitation and very very clear he's going to get a yellow for that.
29:21Plenty of space in the midfield here as it's brought forward by De Katz.
29:25White for Luke Pacquiao on the right side.
29:28He's already got one today, Roldan is able to get there and get a touch to that one.
29:32Before Castanio could do anything about it.
29:35Inside for Luke Pacquiao once again.
29:40Now it comes all the way for Luke Pacquiao.
29:48He's got a second.
29:51Belgium have a fifth here in Atlanta.
30:07only a facsimile of the goals.
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