10-Man USA Edge Past Bosnia 2-0 to Reach World Cup Round of 16
The United States advanced to the World Cup Round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Bosnia, surviving a red card and a nervy second half to set up a clash with Belgium.
Folarin Balogun thought he had opened the scoring in the 30th minute, but the flag was raised for offside. He made no mistake in the 44th minute, however, to give the USA a 1-0 lead at the break.
The game turned in the 64th minute when Balogun was sent off for serious foul play, leaving the United States down to 10 men. Despite the setback, Malik Tillman produced a moment of quality in the 82nd minute, curling in a brilliant free-kick to double the lead and send the home fans wild.
The victory marked only the second time in US history that the team has won a knockout match at the World Cup. They now face Belgium in the Round of 16.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino was asked if the result made him feel “a little American.” He replied: “Sorry, I’m not going to lie, I’m 200% Argentinian.”
On Balogun’s dismissal, Pochettino said: “Watching it after on TV, it was never the intention to step onto the player; it’s a normal action in football that happens by accident. It’s never intentional. It’s never a red card.”
He also praised his side’s composure after going a man down: “Today, in all the 50-50 decisions, none were for us. And the players reacted very well. We controlled that emotional part of the game that’s so important… How they managed the situation was amazing; we showed maturity.”