Co-hosts USA will clash with Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16 in Seattle in the early hours of Tuesday morning and in terms of the match result betting this one looks a tricky game to call.
USA
The USA booked their place in the Round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco on Thursday. It was an eventful game for their leading scorer Folarin Balogun who put them in front on the stroke of half time put picked up a straight red card on 64 minutes and will now miss this game through suspension. Despite a numerical disadvantage USA secured victory with their second goal coming from Malik Tillman in the 82 minute.
The USA topped Group D with 6 points ahead of Australia and Paraguay who both made it through with 4 points and with 3 points Turkey were eliminated.
USA’s final group match against Turkey was a dead rubber with the co-hosts having already secured top spot whilst Turkey were no longer in contention to make it to the knockout rounds. USA took a very early lead (Auston Trusty) but Turkey went 2-1 up before half time. Sebastian Berhalter made it 2-2 early in the second half but in injury time Turkey found the winner and USA went down 3-2.
USA had secured their Ro32 place with a 2-0 win over Australia in Seattle in their second outing. They were full value for the victory which came courtesy of an early own goal and a second from Alex Freeman just before half time and they were largely dominant throughout.
The main hosts were quickly out of the blocks and went on to beat Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match in Los Angeles. A 7th minute own goal sent them on their way and a brace from Folarin Balogun had them 3-0 up at half time. Paraguay did find a goal on 73 minutes but Giovanni Reyna rounded off the scoring deep into injury time and it finished 4-1.
Belgium:
Belgium were involved in a dramatic Round of 16 clash with Senegal at this venue on Wednesday and somehow they came away with a 3-2 win in extra time. Senegal scored in each half to take a commanding 2-0 lead and Belgium looked down and out as the clock ran down. However Lukaku gave them hope with an 86th minute goal and 3 minutes Tielemans squared things up at 2-2 and we went into extra time. Penalty kicks looked to be on the cards but in the 125th minute Belgium were awarded a controversial penalty, Tielemans converted and that was the end of Senegal.
Group G proved to be competitive but Belgium eventually topped it with 1 win and 2 draws. Egypt also finished on 5 points but took the runners spot on goal difference. Iran were third with 3 draws from their matches and were pretty unlucky to be eliminated whilst New Zealand finished bottom of the quartet with 1 point.
Belgium finally cut loose in their third group match, thrashing New Zealand 5-1 in Vancouver. Trossard scored in each half and further goals from Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers gave Belgium the goal difference to leap into top position.
Earlier Belgium made hard work of their first two matches. A 0-0 draw with Iran in Los Angeles where they had Nathan Ngoy red carded and a 1-1 draw with Egypt where they were behind after 20 minutes and needed a 66th minute own goal to square things up.
The Betting (Regulation time unless stated otherwise)
USA are priced at around 17/10 to win the game with the draw available at 26/10 and Belgium can be backed at around 7/4
A game of 3 goals or more is priced at 8/10 and its 13/20 for both teams to score
The Verdict:
Whether the Round of 32 drama and good fortune will stay with Belgium at this venue is open to debate and I really don’t know what to make of them. One Belgian player who does seem really up for it is Tielemans, he is their penalty taker and generally an under rated goal threat and gets the vote to pop up with another in regulation time.
Bets: Anytime goalscorer Tielemans at 24/5 with BetXchange
Note, odds are subject to change
