Belgium Devours the USA 5-2
The US national soccer team suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat in their first warm-up match of the year against visiting Belgium on Saturday.
This is the first loss for the co-hosts of the World Cup, along with Canada and Mexico, after five matches, during which they had won four and drawn one.
This defeat serves as a wake-up call for Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is aiming for a deep run in the tournament just 75 days before its start.
The Americans took the lead against the ninth-ranked team in the world when Weston McKennie put the ball in the net in the 39th minute, much to the delight of 67,000 fans in Atlanta. However, the response was swift, with Zeno Debast equalizing in the 45th minute.
In the second half, the visitors took the lead with goals from Amado Onana in the 53rd minute and Charles De Ketler from a penalty kick in the 59th minute. The Belgians continued their dominance with a fourth goal scored by substitute Dodi Lukebakio six minutes after he came on (68th minute), before he added a fifth himself (82nd minute).
Substitute Patrick Agyemang scored a late consolation goal (87th minute) for the United States, who will play Portugal in a friendly on Tuesday before Pochettino announces his final squad in May.