The USA secured their spot in the World Cup last 16 following a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the San Francisco Bay Area. The co-hosts navigated a challenging match that included a controversial red card for striker Folarin Balogun before ultimately sealing the win with a late goal from Malik Tillman.
The match, played in Santa Clara, California, saw a sold-out, pro-USA crowd cheering on their team. Despite the enthusiastic support, the USA did not achieve an early goal as they had in previous tournament games. In the fourth minute, Christian Pulisic created an early opportunity, cutting in from the left and firing a shot that was blocked by Stjepan Radeljić.
Bosnia and Herzegovina also had their moments, forcing a save from goalkeeper Matt Freese early on. Their young player, Kerim Alajbegović, attempted an ambitious Olimpico from a corner kick, which Freese managed to keep out.
First half breakthrough and red card drama
The USA continued to press, with Sergiño Dest making runs and Weston McKennie finding space. Balogun believed he had opened the scoring after 32 minutes when McKennie found him for a finish, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside call. The breakthrough eventually came just before half-time. Tim Ream initiated the play from an underhit clearance, knocking the ball to McKennie, who then set up Balogun to score. This time, the goal stood.
Balogun nearly added a second goal shortly after, following a combination play where McKennie found Dest, whose header across goal was met by Balogun. However, the ball hit the crossbar and went out of play. The second half brought further challenges for the USA when Edin Džeko of Bosnia and Herzegovina was forced off with an injury after 50 minutes.
The game took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute when Balogun was involved in a collision with Tarik Muharemović while chasing a loose ball. After reviewing the incident on the monitor, referee Raphael Claus issued a straight red card to Balogun. This marked Balogun’s third goal in the tournament, but his night ended prematurely.
Tillman’s decisive free-kick and future prospects
Despite being reduced to 10 men, the USA maintained their pressure. Dest earned a free-kick just outside the penalty area, and Tillman stepped up to take it. His perfectly placed shot went over the wall, under the crossbar, and past Bosnia and Herzegovina goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, securing the 2-0 lead in the 82nd minute. This goal provided significant relief for the team and the home crowd.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed his pride in the team’s performance, particularly after the red card incident. Pulisic also commented on the team’s resilience, stating that the situation demonstrated their strength and ability to dig deep. The victory marks only the second time the USA has won a World Cup knockout match, with the previous instance being in 2002 when they reached the quarter-finals.
The win over Bosnia and Herzegovina sets up a last 16 clash against Belgium, scheduled for Monday in Seattle, Washington. This upcoming match will be the fourth opponent out of five in this World Cup that the USA has played in a friendly within the last year. The previous encounter with Belgium resulted in a 5-2 loss, but the team’s recent performance suggests a renewed sense of confidence.
The red card for Balogun means he will be suspended for the match against Belgium, and there is a possibility of a longer ban from FIFA officials. Ricardo Pepi is considered the most likely player to fill Balogun’s position. Chris Richards, a defender for the USA, affirmed the team’s support for Balogun and emphasised that the team is more than just one player, ready for others to step up.
Pochettino’s motivational phrase, “Why not us?”, continues to be a rallying cry for the squad as they aim to progress further in the tournament on home soil. The team’s determined performance against Bosnia and Herzegovina has generated a national conversation in the USA, 12 years after their extra-time loss to Belgium in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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Source: theguardian.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter