USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, FIFA World Cup results: 10-man USA beat Bosnia for second-ever knockout victory despite Balogun red card | Football News
The United States overcame second-half adversity to defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 on Wednesday night, clinching just second place. fifa world cup The knockout victory in the country’s history came despite playing with 10 men for the final 26 minutes after Folarin Balogun’s controversial red card.Balogun scored his third goal of the World Cup but Malik Tillman curled in a stunning late free-kick before being sent off midway through the second half to seal a memorable last-32 victory and send the hosts into the last 16 of the expanded 48-team tournament.The win sets up a mouth-watering clash with Belgium in Seattle on Monday as Mauricio Pochettino’s side continue their quest to advance to the World Cup on home soil.
Balogun shines ahead of red card drama
The United States entered the game as favorites but survived after goalkeeper Matt Freese made two key saves to deny Ermedin Demirovic, while Kerim Alajbegovic also threatened from a corner kick.With the home side settled, Balogun took center stage.The striker scored a goal that was ruled out for offside and appealed twice for penalties before finally breaking the deadlock before half-time. Tim Ream intercepted possession near midfield before Malik Tillman deftly passed the ball into the box, allowing Balogun to fire a left-footed shot past Nikola Vasily for his third goal of the tournament.The goal moved him one goal shy of Bert Pateaude’s long-standing record of four goals by an American player in a single World Cup, set in 1930. Balogun celebrated with LeBron James’ signature “muffler” hand gesture, earning an approving reaction from the NBA superstar.However, the game took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute. Balogun was shown a straight red card after a foul on Tarik Muharemovic, forcing the home side to play the remainder of the game with a man down.
Tillman’s famous victory
Despite being outnumbered, the U.S. remained defensively calm and thwarted Bosnia-Herzegovina’s attempt to tie the game.In the 82nd minute, the decisive moment came when Tillman kicked a beautiful free kick outside the penalty area. Vasili managed to take the shot but could only put the ball into the back of the net and Levi’s Stadium erupted in celebration.The victory ended a miserable World Cup experience against European opponents. The United States has failed to beat a European team at the World Cup since defeating Portugal in 2002 and has been winless in 13 World Cup appearances, including a heartbreaking overtime loss to Belgium in the round of 16 in 2014.This also ended a 10-match winless streak against European opponents in the World Cup. It was also the second time in the history of the United States men’s football team that the United States has won in the knockout stage after the famous victory over Mexico in the round of 16 in 2002. Previously, the United States finished first in its group and reached the semifinals in the first tournament in 1930 before the elimination format was introduced.Bosnia, meanwhile, reached the knockout stages for the first time in its second World Cup and bowed out proudly after drawing with Canada and beating Qatar in the group stages.
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