Santa Clara, Calif. – For the first time since 2002, the United States Men’s National Team has won a knockout game at a World Cup. For the first time ever, they have beaten a European team in a knockout game at the World Cup. On Wednesday evening, the played Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
Mauricio Pochettino returned to his first choice starting lineup. Christian Pulisic started in the attack. Folarin Balogun was in as well. All four players who were on a yellow card started.
Bosnia were organized at the back in a 4-4-2. The USMNT swarmed the team from the Balkins. The fullbacks were active overlapping and putting in crosses. They had 62% possession and the majority of the chances in the first half.
After several good opportunities, Balogun thought he had opened the scoring on the half hour. Weston McKennie delivered a good pass and Balogun had a smooth finish. But it was offside. Balogun got his revenge at the end of the half. A Malik Tillman pass was deflected by the defense. Balgon got to it and delivered a great finish.
Balogun could have had a second in the eighth minute of stoppage time. The half ended 1-0.
This was a physical, chippy, wild game. The officials let the teams play. Balogun took contact to the leg while cutting inside the box that could have been a penalty. Similar to the Australia game, if the game was called tighter, Bosnia could have had several yellow cards before the second hydration break.
The second half was more even with Bosnia coming out of their shell, looking for an equalizer. The USMNT center backs were alert to the danger. The match was turned on its head in the 64th minute. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus had gone to the monitor, with VAR looking at a tackle between Balogun and Tarik Muharemovic. The two were jostling for a loose ball. Balogun lunged for it, but the defender had position. Balogun scraped the back of the heel with his cleats and was given a red card.
The goalscorer had gone from putting the USMNT up a goal to leaving them down a man. It was a harsh call. The internet made comparisons to a tackle by Lionel Messi in the group stage that went unpunished.
The Yanks battened down the hatches in the final 26 minutes plus 10 minutes of stoppage time. They defended well, pressing and blocking shots.
In the 80th, Sergiño Dest won a free kick at the top of the box. Malik Tillman stepped and scored possibly the best goal of his career. Having created the first goal, he bent the ball around a numerous Bosnian wall and in. The USMNT went on to win 2-0.
They now play Belgium on Monday, July 6 at Seattle Stadium. The Red Devils came back to beat Senegal earlier in the day, 3-2 in extra time. The Round of 16 game is a rematch of the 2014 Round of 16 game in which Tim Howard set a record for saves in a single World Cup game. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. MT.
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