Normal time ended with a 0-0 draw, as many of the other second round games have, with all the excitement coming after the 90th minute. The Belgians relied on their sharp technique and, as usual, their bench to see out the game, the Americans relied on their fitness and running to keep them in the contest until the very final whistle at 120 minutes, in what was a fine match of football.

Tim Howard cemented his place in the pantheon of US soccer greats with a wonderful performance as the defender of his goal, which was under siege; the Everton goalkeeper made 15 saves in the first 90 minutes which is a World Cup record. In truth, Belgium dominated the play but American resilience made this the biggest challenge the Belgians have yet faced.

The Americans were unlucky to lose a strong performer in first choice right back Fabian Johnson, but he was more than adequately replaced by the Seattle Sounders’ DeAndre Yedlin. The substitute has been credited with shackling Belgium’s danger man Eden Hazard, but in truth Hazard’s first touch and passing abilities were enough for him to frequently take his marker out of the game. He has still not managed to score but without him Belgium would have scored less, he makes goals for his friends and takes a marker with him wherever he goes.

Belgium manager Marc Wilmots bended to media pressure at home to start the Lille striker Divock Origi in place of Howard’s teammate at Everton last season Romelu Lukaku. In the group phase, all of Belgium’s goals were scored with Origi on the pitch and, worryingly for Belgium, all their tournament goals have been scored after the 70th minute. Wilmots and the squad have been clear since the beginning that Belgium’s strength is the squad of 23, everyone is able to come in and have an impact but one wonders how long they can rely on this method.

Napoli’s Dries Mertens seems to have established himself in the starting eleven, but many are wondering if he is not strongest coming off the bench to test the tired defenders with his direct style of play. While this certainly seems to be true, the same can be said of many of Belgium’s star players. Against the USA, Romelu Lukaku had to wait until extra time to come onto the pitch (and that was only Wilmots’ second substitution) and with the American defenders now painfully tired he was able to immediately run riot. In the second minute of extra time Lukaku robbed the ball off Besler and played the pass for Kevin De Bruyne to score the opener. Ten minutes later Lukaku was in again to score their second and ultimately winning goal.

With 15 minutes to go, USA manager Jürgen Klinsmann sent on Bayern Munich youth player Julian Green, within a minute he had stunned the Belgians with a volleyed finish to ramp up the pressure for the last 15 minutes. It was a scuffed finish from the youngster, which likely obscured the trajectory of the ball for goalkeeper Courtois, but one can’t overly criticise what was a fine goal from a fine move for a team that had merited some form of reward from the game.

Ex-Chievo and Roma midfielder Michael Bradley was tasked with being the anchorman and the regista for the USA and disappointed. When asked to shield his defence and lay the ball off to more creative midfielders he is a terrific asset to the Americans, but in his other role as provider he was incapable of controlling the midfield like the Belgians could. Calmness and technique in possession was probably the only reason the Belgians won this game, an area where US soccer still needs development.

Despite both teams’ heroics in extra time, a 2-1 victory for the Belgians seems fair when one considers the number of shots on goal and their quality in possession. Dries Mertens will meet Napoli teammates Gonzalo Higuaín and Federico Fernández of Argentina in the quarter final.