USMNT versus Belgium player ratings — Were there any silver linings for Pochettino in blowout loss?
Most of the good vibes from the United States men's national team's great end of 2025 felt a long way away by the time the final whistle blew on a 5-2 loss to Belgium in Atlanta on Saturday. The Yanks looked good in the first half but fell apart in the second half as Manchester City's Jeremy Doku and former club teammate Kevin De Bruyne picked Mauricio Pochettino's Yanks apart with speed and precision. MORE — Recap, video highlights from USMNT v Belgium A 21-shot first half saw Belgium with nearly 60% of the ball and 13 of the shot attempts.
The Americans could only manage three second-half shots despite 66% of the ball while the visiting Red Devils put six of their seven shots on target. Weston McKennie gave the USMNT a 1-0 lead but Zeno Debast scored before halftime and Belgium caught fire in the second half. Aston Villa's Amadou Onana gave them a lead they would not give up, Charles De Ketelaere scored from the spot, and Dodi Lukebakio bagged a brace off the bench before Patrick Agyemang made it 5-2 in the 87th minute.
USMNT versus Belgium player ratings Matt Turner: 6. 5 — Could he have found his way to Debast's low shot through traffic? That's up for debate but he kept the game 1-1 with a solid two-handed parry moments later.
Sensational double stop just before the penalty as part of five saves. Left out to dry on four of the five goals. Timothy Weah (Off 64') : 4.
5 — Sergino Dest is injured and Weah was a bit of a wildcard to play right back in a back four, especially with Joe Scally and Alex Freeman right there. He had a lot of trouble with Jeremy Doku. A lot of folks do.