FIFA World Cup 2026: Balogun scores and sees red as US beat Bosnia 2-0

Folarin Balogun scored and was sent off as the United States beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 20 to reach the last 16 of the World Cup on Wednesday The cohosts first World Cup knockout victory in nearly a quartercentury and only their second ever sets up a clash with Belgium in Seattle on MondayBaloguns goal on the stroke of halftime had sent the California crowd into delirium with some 30 million Americans expected to be watching the blockbuster clash across the nationBut the striker saw red as VAR intervened following a nasty clash with Bosnias Tarik Muharemovic But even with the US forced into a 10man rearguard action Malik Tillman curled in a free kick to secure the winFolarin Balogun of the United States celebrates scoring his teams first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara California PicAFPUS supporters had flocked into the San Francisco Bay Area stadium in festive mood their exuberant confidence summed up by the traditional prematch fighter jet flyover in the bright California skiesBosnias tactics were made clear from the kickoff an immediate long ball while the US defense quickly camped out on the halfway line always pushing forwardStill Bosnia had the best early chances Fortyyearold captain Edin Dzeko held up a launched pass from his goalkeeper and laid it off for Ermedin Demirovic who shot right at Matt FreeseThe US keeper made another good save moments later from a Kerim Alajbegovic corner which threatened to swing straight into his netBut the US pressure began to tell Balogun had a decent penalty shout for a clumsy Amar Dedic tackle waved away Soon after the American striker had the ball in the net but was offside from Weston McKennies smart passThose near misses enlivened an increasingly anxious crowd But their nerves were soon reduced as Balogun scored in the 45th minuteUS captain Tim Ream had intercepted a Bosnian goal kick swiftly playing it to Tillman His through ball deflected into the path of Balogun who tucked it under the goalkeeperImpressive holding midfielder Tyler Adams nearly created a second before the break He found Sergino Dest who headed back to Balogun His shot from the sixyard line clipped the crossbar on its way overHistoric winJust five minutes into the second half Dzeko limped off Bosnian coach Sergej Barbarez made a triple substitution A younger more mobile front line featuring Wisconsinborn USraised Esmir Bajraktarevic immediately pressed higher and fasterIn the 64th minute Balogun was shown a straight red after VAR review harshly judged to have stamped on the back of Muharemovics foot With the crowd stunned Demirovic spurned a chance to add insult to injury shooting straight at Freese from a dangerous positionUS coach Mauricio Pochettino used the hydration break to gather his squad in a tight huddle on the field rallying his outnumbered troops to hold out for the games final phaseDespite his team suddenly being on the backfoot Christian Pulisic put the ball in the net but was comfortably offside And in the 82nd minute the US won a free kick on the edge of the Bosnian box from a pull on Dest Tillman curled it over the wall and to the right of Nikola Vasilj whose fingertips could not keep it outThe Americans rode out a nervy 10 minutes of stoppage time substitue Ermin Mahmics shot flashing inches wide of the far post But they ultimately holding out for a clean sheet and a historic win keeping alive their World Cup journey on home soil as USA chants and Take Me Home Country Roads reverberated around the giant arena that hosted this years Super BowlThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever