WORLD CUP 2014: Belgium 2 - 1 USA

Tim Howard - who made 16 saves - defied Belgium until extra time, when the introduction of Romelu Lukaku - his Everton team-mate last season - proved decisive with the striker creating the opening for Kevin de Bruyne's winner before scoring the second himself in a thrilling 2-1 victory.

De Bruyne was guilty of the most glaring miss of the half when he cut back inside but sent a tame shot rolling wide of the post.

Belgium boss Marc Wilmots gave Lukaku a chance to make up for his disappointing tournament, on for Origi, and within two minutes of extra time starting he had made the goal.

Lukaku's strength and pace down the right opened up the USA and De Bruyne fastened on to the ball to fire in low at the far post with Howard for once beaten. Mirallas, another Everton man, could have wrapped it up but another intervention by Howard kept it at 1-0.



At the climax, it was Courtois' turn to be the hero when he denied Dempsey at point-blank range after a brilliantly inventive free-kick by the Americans.

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