The United States will face Belgium in the last eight after beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in San Francisco – despite Folarin Balogun being sent off.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men were by far the better team and claimed their first knockout victory since the quarter-finals in 2002. After having a goal disallowed earlier in the game, USA talisman Balogun opened the scoring with his third goal of the tournament – in injury time in the first half.
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But the game looked like it could turn around when Balogun, after a lengthy VAR review, received a straight red card for a dangerous – but probably unintentional – tackle on Tarik Muharemovic. However, Bosnia never managed to exploit the numerical advantage, and Malik Tillman’s free-kick secured the USA’s place in the next round.
Now Belgium awaits in the last eight in Seattle – and the absence of the suspended Balogun could be decisive.
The US ended 24 years of waiting
Pochettino’s team was frustrated for much of the first half by a well-organised Bosnia defence. Balogun thought he had broken the score in the 31st minute, but the goal was nullified for offside.
14 minutes later, he got his chance. Tillman’s pass was deflected to the Monaco striker, and he put the ball safely into the goal. Balogun could have scored his second in injury time, but Sergiño Dest’s shot hit the crossbar.
Then came the red card. After a lengthy VAR check, Balogun was sent off for inadvertently twisting Muharemovic’s ankle to the ground in a duel. Still, the USA were the most dangerous team without him – Christian Pulisic put the ball into the net from offside, and Tillman settled the game with an elegant free-kick over the wall.
Bosnia threatened with a couple of long shots, but could not prevent the USA from taking a historic victory – and setting up a tempting eight-way final, albeit one that looks a little less winnable without Balogun.
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