Folarin Balogun opened the scoring and was later sent off, but the United States survived the final half-hour with 10 men and sealed a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach the last 16.
The United States is moving on. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup run ends here.
In front of a fired-up home crowd, Mauricio Pochettino’s team defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup, setting up a last-16 clash with Belgium. It was not a simple night for the hosts, who played the final half-hour with 10 men after Folarin Balogun’s red card, but the U.S. showed maturity, energy and control when the match became complicated.
Balogun was once again at the center of everything.
The Monaco striker gave the United States the lead just before halftime, taking advantage of an unfortunate deflection from Muharemović to beat Vasilj and make it 1-0. It was Balogun’s third goal of the tournament and another sign of how important he has become to the American attack. He also hit the crossbar, nearly adding another goal to his World Cup run.
But his night changed dramatically in the second half.
Bosnia, already struggling to create danger and set up in a cautious shape, lost Edin Džeko to injury shortly after the break. Then VAR intervened after Balogun stepped on Muharemović. Referee Claus reviewed the incident and showed a straight red card in the 64th minute, leaving the United States with 10 men for the final stretch.
That should have been Bosnia’s opening. Instead, Sergej Barbarez’s team never found the quality or urgency needed to turn numerical superiority into real pressure.
The U.S. stayed compact, defended with discipline and continued to look dangerous in transition. Antonee Robinson pushed forward with energy, Weston McKennie was everywhere in midfield, and Christian Pulisic grew into the match, even seeing a second goal ruled out for offside.
The best player on the field, however, was Malik Tillman.
Tillman inspired the American attack throughout the night and then closed the game himself in the 82nd minute with a free kick that beat Vasilj and sent the stadium into celebration. It was the moment that ended Bosnia’s hopes and confirmed the United States’ place in the next round.
For Bosnia and Herzegovina, this was a painful exit. Muharemović had an unlucky night, involved in the deflection on the opening goal and then in the incident that led to Balogun’s red card. Alajbegović was the only player who consistently tried to create something, while Džeko’s injury removed Bosnia’s main reference point in attack.
For the United States, this was a professional knockout win with a little drama attached. Balogun was both hero and problem, but Pochettino’s team found balance after the red card and finished the job with confidence.
Now comes Belgium. The hosts are still alive, the crowd is dreaming, and the American World Cup continues.
Match Report
USA 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Halftime: 1-0
Goals: 45’ Balogun, 82’ Tillman
USA: Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Adams, Tillman; Dest (87’ Berhalter), McKennie (90+5’ Reyna), Pulisic (88’ Pepi); Balogun.
Coach: Mauricio Pochettino
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Dedić, Katić (75’ Memić), Muharemović, Kolašinac (75’ Tabaković); Radeljić, Šunjić (51’ Tahirović), Gigović (51’ Bajraktarević), Alajbegović; Demirović, Džeko (51’ Mahmić).
Coach: Sergej Barbarez
Referee: Claus (Brazil)
Yellow Cards: Radeljić
Red Cards: 64’ Balogun
