USA Beat Bosnia 2-0 to Reach Last 16 Despite Balogun Red Card

The United States reached the World Cup last 16 with a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Santa Clara, but face an anxious wait to discover whether top scorer Folarin Balogun will be available for their last-16 clash with Belgium after he was sent off in the same game he scored.

Balogun broke the deadlock just before halftime, reacting quickest to steer Tillman's deflected pass under goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj for his third goal of the tournament. But his night ended just after the hour mark when referee Raphael Claus, after a VAR review, dismissed him for raking his studs down the leg of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic. Balogun looked shocked as he trudged off, consoled by Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah.

He became the first player from any country to score and receive a red card in the same knockout game since Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final. A one-game suspension is standard for a red card at the tournament, though the US are expected to appeal.

Rather than sit back with ten men, the US continued to push and were rewarded in the 82nd minute when Malik Tillman curled a beautiful free-kick past the Bosnian wall to seal the win.

Bosnia had been largely content to defend deep and soak up pressure for much of the contest, offering little going forward and giving the US little trouble once Balogun's opener went in. Coach Mauricio Pochettino's side controlled the game from start to finish, with Tillman particularly effective in both halves, completing 23 of 33 passes, winning nine duels and staying involved throughout even after his side were reduced to ten men.

The win was only the second World Cup knockout victory in US history and their first since 2002. It also ended a ten-game losing streak against European opposition.

The US will now face Belgium in Seattle on Monday 6 July, with kickoff at 01:00 WAT, in a repeat of the 2014 World Cup last-16 tie, which Belgium won. 

Balogun's availability remains the key question heading into that game.