Oh good grief *

The turf monster got him.

And got him good. Back breaker.

Is he not allowed to just catch the ball there?….

I honestly don’t know the rule, but if he could catch it then chesting and kicking it was stupid.

I looked up the rule

If he had just picked up there, since it prevented a sure goal scoring opportunity, it would have been a direct free kick for Belgium and a red card for the goalie.

He is not. Once he leaves the area

He is a field player. The hesitation was the killer. Normally the goalie will aggressively go through the ball and bomb it down field. Major major blunder.

He can’t use his hands outside of the box that connects to

the half arc. I have no idea why he came so far out and then… just… stopped. Makes zero sense. He needed to commit one way or another.

Because if he didn’t the Belgian attacker gets there first.

His mistake was hesitating on the clearance. His initial touch was excellent.

Just another example of a US player not being decisive.

Can’t use his hands outside the 18 yard box. *