USA advances with thrilling win over Bosnia despite red card

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Folarin Balogun was still learning to walk the last time the United States won a World Cup knockout match. On Wednesday, he helped lead the Americans to another goal with his goal in the final seconds of the first half, sparking a 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina that sends the team to the round of 16 of this summer’s tournament.

The other goal came from Malik Tillman in the 82nd minute. The Americans scored multiple goals in every game of the tournament for the first time ever, also setting a national record with 10 total goals in the tournament.

The United States will face Belgium in the next round on Monday in Seattle. Belgium advanced with a 3-2 win over Senegal in overtime.

Balogun was not there to see the finish, however, drawing a straight red card for stomping on the right ankle of Bosnian central defender Tarik Muharemovic in the 61st minute, a foul by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus confirmed via video review. This forced the Americans to see Wednesday’s match played with just 10 players.

“For me, this red card was never given,” said American coach Mauricio Pochettino. “Watching afterwards on television, that was never the case [it] intention[al] to intensify the player. It was a normal action in football that happened by accident.

“That’s why for me it’s never a red card.”

Claus disagreed, which could prove costly against Belgium because the card comes with a one-match suspension that the United States cannot appeal.

“It’s really unfortunate, honestly,” teammate Christian Pulisic said. “Looking back on it, it seems so hard. I just told him he did so much for us, and now we support him. So that’s it.”

Balogun put the U.S. in front to stay just before intermission. The sequence began with Bosnian defender Stjepan Radeljic sliding in front of a pass from Tillman, deflecting it towards Muharemovic. But Muharemovic crossed his feet, allowing the ball to pass to Balogun who did the rest, sweeping the ball into the net with his left foot from about 15 feet away.

The goal was Balogun’s third of the tournament, tied with Landon Donovan (2010) for the most by an American in a single World Cup since 1930. The Americans’ lead was the first at halftime in a World Cup knockout match since 2002, when they beat Mexico in the round of 16.

Folarin Balogun and Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Amar Dedic in action during the first half.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

The lead looked precarious when Muharemovic collapsed to the ground around 30 minutes from normal time. Claus didn’t show a card, but after the VAR official suggested he watch a slow-motion replay, he walked away from the monitor and grabbed the red, making Balogun the first American to receive a red card and score a goal in the same World Cup match.

“I think it’s a yellow card,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. “I think when you slow everything down, it’s only going to get worse.”

A few minutes after Balogun left, play stopped for the second-half hydration break, which proved to be a lucky break for the American. Tillman had his right foot stomped on early in the half, tearing off his boot and leaving his foot bloodied. The break gave him the opportunity to change his shoes.

In the 82nd minute, he launched his new right boot on a free kick from the top of the box, knocking it off Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj’s gloved right hand and into the net. It brought another first, according to OptaJack, which said Tillman was the first American player to score from a direct free kick in a competitive match since Jozy Altidore in the 2017 Gold Cup final.

“I dreamed of this match. I dreamed of maybe taking a free kick and scoring a free kick,” said Tillman, who constantly practices set pieces after training sessions. “And then it came true.”

Until Wednesday, the United States had not beaten a European team in 13 tries, a decline that included draws against Wales and England in the 2022 World Cup and six defeats in as many matches under Pochettino.

The last UEFA country he beat? Bosnia and Herzegovina, in December 2021.

“The details decided the match,” Vasilj said.

After the red card, “we started to control the game,” he continued, “and they canceled that with the second goal. We had our moments and it felt like something was happening. The only thing missing was the goal.”

Staff writer Mirjam Swanson contributed to this report.

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