Belgium sets up quarter final clash against Argentina, after defeating US

US substitute Julian Green volleyed a Michael Bradley pass into goal to set up a thrilling closing spell in extra-time, but Belgium prevailed.
Kevin de Bruyne and substitute Romelu Lukaku hit extra-time goals to give Belgium a 2-1 victory over the United States and set up a World Cup quarterfinal meeting with Argentina in Brasilia on Saturday.
Tim Howard, in goal, had kept the United States in the game with a series of fine saves, but the Everton keeper was beaten in the third and 15th minutes of the extra period before substitute Julian Green pulled one back.
Belgium created the greater chances throughout the game and it was almost one-way traffic in the second half, but time and again Howard was in the way to take the game to extra-time in Salvador’s Arena Fonte Nova.
But as in Belgium’s group games, it was a substitute who proved decisive.
Lukaku came off the bench and with his first touch shrugged off the challenge of Matt Besler on the right.
His cross after a powerful run into the area fell to Wolfsburg midfielder, de Bruyne, who turned and beat the diving Howard with an angled shot.
De Bruyne then fed Lukaku as Belgium broke and the striker on loan last season to Everton from Chelsea, beat his club teammate with a firm shot.
Green came off the bench for the second extra-time period to volley a Michael Bradley pass into goal to set up a thrilling closing spell.
It turned out to be the story of the game: Belgium created chances only to see Howard stop everything thrown at him.
De Bruyne dragged a shot wide after the US were backtracking when Graham Zusi lost possession in midfield.
And with many of the Belgium moves coming down the left, DaMarcus Beasley did well to clear a Jan Vertonghen cross with Maroune Fellaini lurking.
Kevin Mirallas came on for Mertens on the hour as Belgium kept probing and another glorious chance fell for Origi who could only flick at Howard when the ball fell to him after De Bruyne ran straight at the heart of the US defence.
Lukaku’s second goal appeared to have wrapped the game up, and Howard was kept busy stopping Lukaku again and Eden Hazard to prevent a third.
But the US gave themselves a chance with Green’s goal in the 107th minute, and in a battling closing spell came close to taking the match to penalties.