Belgium vs USA, World Cup 2014, as it happened

Belgium vs USA, World Cup 2014, as it happened

there's no Hollywood ending, at least not the one where Rocky gets back up from the eight count and pummels the European to within an inch of his life. Instead it's the Hollywood lesson ending (the worst kind of lesson) where winning isn't everything as long as you give it your all, son. Well Klinsmann's side certainly gave it their all (and more). Tim Howard was denying the belgians all on his own for a large part of the game. Finally his wall was breached, not once but twice. Game over. Surely? But no. The US got a goal back and then piled on the pressure for an equaliser that very nearly came. It was an astonishing performance from the US but Belgium deserve credit too. This was probably their best - and certainly their most attacking - display of the tournament.

The bodies strewn all over the pitch at the final whistle told the story more emphatically than any words. It was a crazy, thrilling, head-spinning game. USA are going home, Belgium are going through. Everyone needs to go and lie down now. All of you. Thanks for your comments and for following the blog throughout the evening. Come back on Friday for the first two quarter finals. Goodnight.

All eight group winners make it through to the quarter final.Maybe we should ditch the second round entirely? Though look what we would have missed. The last eight line up is as follows:

Friday July 4

France v Germany 5pm BST
Brazil v Colombia 9pm BST

Saturday July 5

Argentina v Belgium 5pm BST
Holland v Costa Rica 9pm BST

Full time: Belgium 2 USA 1. Howard pumps one last ball into the area but Fellaini heads clear and that is it. What a game. Maybe the best of a World Cup that gets better and better every couple of hours.

119 min: This is it. The last chance for US. Beasley crosses from the left and Yedlin is arriving at the back post. He tries to hook it back into the centre but slices it behind for a goal kick. That's the first foot he's put out of place since he came on.

119 min: Great ball from Lukaku. It beats Cameron but Mirallas can’t collect.

116 min: What a ball from Yedlin but Wondolowski can’t get his shot away. Eventually Jones does shoot but it’s from distance and it flies over the top.

114 min: American newcomers to football: you’ve played pinball, right? Well that’s what ‘s going on in the Belgium area now. Eventually Courtois falls on the ball.

^{Courtois smothers Dempsey's effort}

113 min: What a free kick. Jones runs over it, Bradley plays it to Yedlin who flicks on to Dempsey and it’s an unbelievable save from Courtois dashing off his line to smother the free kick. What a time to bring out 'one from the training ground'. And but for the finish it was perfectly executed.

112 min: Free kick to USA, dead centre 35 yards out. A bit too far to shoot I would think.

110 min: Chadli is on and Eden Hazard goes off. The Belgium fans aren't happy with that.

110 min: What a save from Howard., Lukaku bustles through the US defence and looks certain to wrap it up but Howard gets out this giant redwood tree-trunks that he calls his legs and makes the block.

108 min: Jones is inches wide. Inches, with a stabbed effort from a Dempsey knock down after more excellent work from Yedlin. This is Rocky v Ivan Drago now and Rocky’s just picked himself off the deck.

GOAL! BELGIUM 2 USA 1 (Green 106) What's happening here, It's a great ball from Bradley and an even better run by Green. He meets it on the volley, doesn't catch it cleanly but it beats Courtois and nestles in the corner. It's his first touch, not only of this game but of the World Cup. Not a bad way to start. And it's game on again. Hang on to your hats, folks.

Peep! The second half is underway. The US need to be as heroic in attack as they were for 90 minutes in defence if they are to take this to penalties.

Half time: Belgium 2 USA 0. It's a long, long way back now.

105+1 min: Julian Green is coming on for Bedoya. I'm not sure why he doesn't wait until half time to make the change. He's using up his own time here.

GOAL! BELGIUM 2 USA 0 (Lukaku 104) Belgium are surely into the last eight. Once again it's on the counter. It's a reversal of the first goal as De Bruyne threads a pass through to Lukaku and the finish is emphatic, rifling past Howard first time with his left foot.

104 min: Once more Howard is called into action, this time to block from Mirallas. Jones is back on.

102 min: Good move down the left from the US but Alderweireld does brilliantly to clear Beasley’s cross. It comes back to Beasley but his second attempt is too strong. The US are still down to 10 men with Jones receiving treatment.,

100 min Lukaku is in again, picking up Hazard’s pass. He holds off Yedlin’s challenge and gets his shot away but Howard saves at his near post.

99 min: Chance for the US – it’s excellent work from Cameron and then Dempsey but he delays shooting and Jones picks up. He gets his shot away but it ricochets off some Belgium legs and almost falls back into Dempsey’s path. Jones takes a nasty knock in that passage and is down for treatment.

97 min: Cameron lofts a cross into the area but it's far too high.

95 min: The US have responded well to going behind but Belgium are so dangerous on the counter and Lukaku is running right. He brings another save from Howard at his near post.