Tillman free kick lifts United States against Belgium in Seattle

Malik Tillman bent a free kick through Belgium’s wall in the 31st minute and sent Seattle Stadium into a roar. The shot came from just outside the area, found space in the barrier and clipped a Belgian defender before reaching the net, and Tillman had changed his right boot minutes earlier after being stepped on.

The equalizer came in a round-of-16 meeting between the United States and Belgium. The United States and Belgium had not met in a World Cup since their knockout clash in Brazil in 2014, and the rematch was for a place in the quarterfinals. Belgium arrived after rallying from 2-0 down to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time, while the United States had beaten Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 even after Folarin Balogun’s red card forced them to play much of the second half with 10 men.

Tillman’s goal was the United States’ third of the tournament, and it came with the team chasing a place in the last eight for only the second time in the modern era and for the first time since 2002. The Americans had last beaten Belgium in a World Cup in 1930, when they won 3-0.

Tillman had already scored against Bosnia and Herzegovina with an 82nd-minute free kick, a goal that made him the first American in 32 years to score directly from a free kick in a World Cup. Against Belgium, the pressure was physical as well as tactical: he absorbed the earlier knock to his foot, switched boots, and then delivered the set piece.

The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network later recorded ground motion near the stadium.