SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — The United States men’s national soccer team moved one step closer to a deep World Cup run after beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 on Wednesday. The victory sends the Americans into the Round of 16, where they will face Belgium on Monday in Seattle.
The U.S. delivered another disciplined performance under coach Mauricio Pochettino. However, the win came with a major setback. Forward Folarin Balogun received a red card in the second half and will miss the next match against Belgium.
Pochettino kept the same starting lineup that defeated Paraguay 4-1 in the opening match. Christian Pulisic returned to the lineup after proving his fitness, while Bosnia and Herzegovina relied on its familiar five-man defense. Veteran striker Edin Dzeko led the attack in a two-forward system.
The first half started slowly. Both teams struggled to create clear chances before the hydration break. However, the game opened up after play resumed.
Balogun thought he had scored the opening goal, but officials ruled it out because of an offside call during the buildup. Still, the striker stayed dangerous. In the 45th minute, Malik Tillman played a deflected through ball into the penalty area. Balogun reacted quickly, shifted the ball onto his left foot, and calmly finished through goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj’s legs. He then celebrated with LeBron James’ famous “Silencer” gesture.
Balogun almost doubled the lead before halftime. He met a cross from the right side, but his effort struck the crossbar after a slight mishit. Even so, the United States entered the break with a deserved 1-0 advantage.
The second half began at a slower pace. Then the match changed dramatically in the 64th minute. After a lengthy video review, officials upgraded Balogun’s challenge on Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic to a straight red card for serious foul play. The U.S. forward left the field visibly emotional, and the Americans had to finish the match with 10 players.
Bosnia and Herzegovina pushed forward after gaining the extra player. However, the U.S. defense stayed organized and limited dangerous opportunities. Matt Freese remained composed in goal and handled the pressure well.
Instead of allowing an equalizer, the Americans added another goal. In the 82nd minute, Tillman stepped up to take a free kick just outside the penalty area. He curled a superb effort over the defensive wall and into the net. Vasilj got a hand on the ball, but he could not keep it out.
The second goal gave the United States valuable breathing room. Bosnia pressed during 10 minutes of added time and sent several long balls into the box. Nevertheless, the American defense cleared the danger and secured an important clean sheet.
The statistics reflected the U.S. control throughout the match. The Americans produced 0.92 expected goals from eight shots, according to FotMob. Meanwhile, Bosnia generated only 0.25 expected goals from 10 attempts and managed just seven touches inside the U.S. penalty area.
Now the focus shifts to Belgium, one of Europe’s most talented squads. Belgium finished first in Group G, which also included Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand. Although the Red Devils topped the group, their performances have lacked consistency.
Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1 in its final group match. Then it survived a dramatic Round of 32 contest against Senegal. After trailing 2-0 late in regulation, Belgium scored twice to force extra time. Youri Tielemans converted a penalty in the 125th minute to seal a 3-2 victory.
Belgium features several world-class players, including Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard, Romelu Lukaku and Amadou Onana. Despite that talent, the team has not consistently played at its highest level under coach Rudi Garcia.
The United States enters the next round with confidence but also faces a difficult challenge without Balogun. Ricardo Pepi appears to be the leading candidate to replace him. Haji Wright also provides another option in attack. In addition, Pochettino could move Pulisic into a central role and bring Brendan Aaronson or Tim Weah into the starting lineup. Midfielders Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter also offer creative options.
The Round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium will take place on Monday in Seattle. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. With a place in the World Cup quarterfinals at stake, the Americans will look to overcome Balogun’s absence and continue their impressive tournament run.
