US keep hopes of dream World Cup run alive, but Balogun red mutes celebrations
Co-hosts end 24-year wait to win a game in knockout stage of tournament after goals from Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman sink Bosnia.
The United States moved into the last 16 at the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia despite going down to 10 men, and ended a 24-year wait for a knockout-stage win to keep alive hopes of a dream run in football’s global showpiece.
In a dramatic high-tempo game in the San Francisco Bay Area, Folarin Balogun scored near half-time then was sent off after the break, with Malik Tillman converting a free kick late on to spark euphoria in a partisan arena of red, white and blue.
Victory brought an end to a dismal US run of 10 consecutive defeats by European opposition, and set up a last 16 tie in Seattle with Belgium, who had earlier rallied from two goals down to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time.
“I felt we put on such a good performance and didn’t deserve the red card,” Christian Pulisic said.
“But for us to dig in deep like that and just to get another goal and to defend the way we did, it took a real team effort, but we’re proud of that.”
It was a physical encounter in the Golden State where luck was not always on the side of the hosts, with Balogun and Pulisic having goals ruled out and Bosnia crowding out their defence to stifle a succession of USA attacks.