U.S. vs. Belgium 1st half live blog

No Landon Donovan today and Clint Dempsey returns for his first game under Jurgen Klinsmann. The U.S. looks for its first win under its new head coach (0-1-1) after a terrible 1-0 loss to Costa Rica on Friday in Carson, CA.

Belgian is a decent European team, lots of quality younger players but at the same time, they tied Azerbijan last weekend and are on the cusp of not qualifying for Euro 2012.

U.S. starting 11
Howard; Cherundolo, Goodson, Bocanegra (capt.), Chandler; Edu, Torres, Dempsey; Rogers, Altidore, Shea

Belgium starting 11
Mignolet, Ciman, Alderweireld, Kompany, Lombaerts, Simons, Hazard, Fellani, De Camargo, Witsel, Mertens

It is pouring in Brussels and as a result, looks like some of the crowd didn't turn or is under the stands at the moment.

First chance of the game. Dempsey takes a bouncing shot and the goalie Mignolet makes a mess of it. Jozy got to the rebound but knocked it out before he could do anything.

Shea wins a corner kick. The youngster has been playing really well for the U.S. and with his club team-FC Dallas in MLS.

A couple Belgian players (like Fellani) have great fros/mops for hair.

Slow start for both teams. Rogers wins a free kick after his heels were clipped. Torres whips it just wide, I thought it was going in. Mignolet didn't seem to get a good read on it.

Lombaerts wins a free kick on the side of the U.S. box. The U.S. cleared it out and Shea got fouled.

Cherundolo almost connected with Shea on a nice through ball.

Big save by Howard on Simons' long shot. First real shot for either side.

Mertens shoots wide (and completely fools Ian Darke who thinks it went in). It hit the outside of the net and regardless, it was offside.

Howard knocks out a tough-angle shot for a Belgian corner kick. That play started because a U.S. midfielder lunged and got beat well up field. Lazy. Belgium is starting to take over now.

Belgium gets job out of another corner that clearly went off Bocanegra's head.

The U.S. looks terrible, really slow and not fighting through challenges or pressure.

Fellani with a redirection stopped by Howard. Great instinctual save.

Rogers wins a free kick that Torres hits into the Belgian wall. Even worse, Edu has a chance to take a long shot but he completely whiffs (really). Yup, it's been that kind of half for the U.S. They haven't given up a goal but that's about the only positive thing you can say about them.

Halftime: 0-0.

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