USA Beat Bosnia 2-0 Despite Balogun Red Card to Set Up World Cup Clash With Belgium

The United States booked a place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 with a resilient 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night, overcoming a controversial second-half red card shown to striker Folarin Balogun.

Balogun opened the scoring late in the first half before being sent off in the 64th minute following a VAR review, leaving Mauricio Pochettino's side to play the final stages with 10 men.

Malik Tillman eased American nerves by curling home a superb free-kick in the 82nd minute to seal victory and set up a last-16 meeting with Belgium in Seattle.

The result marks only the second World Cup knockout victory of the modern era for the United States, following their famous Round of 16 triumph over Mexico at the 2002 tournament.

The Americans started brightly but Bosnia created the first real danger, forcing goalkeeper Matt Freese into two early saves.

Balogun thought he had broken the deadlock midway through the opening half, only for VAR to rule him narrowly offside.

The Monaco striker eventually got his reward just before the break.

Tim Ream intercepted a clearance before Weston McKennie and Tillman combined to release Balogun inside the penalty area. After the ball broke kindly to him, the striker calmly slotted home his third goal of the tournament in the 45th minute.

Balogun nearly doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, but his close-range effort crashed against the crossbar.

Bosnia's hopes received a major boost in the 64th minute when Balogun was dismissed.

While challenging defender Tarik Muharemovic for a loose ball, Balogun landed on the Bosnian defender's ankle. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus initially allowed play to continue before being called to the monitor by VAR.

After reviewing the incident, Claus produced a straight red card.

The decision sparked debate, with former FIFA referee Mark Clattenburg describing it on FOX Sports as an accident rather than serious foul play.

"I don't believe it's a good use of VAR," Clattenburg said.

"This is just an accident... This doesn't meet, for me, the criteria of a red card."

The dismissal means Balogun will miss the Round of 16 clash against Belgium through suspension.

Despite enjoying the numerical advantage, Bosnia struggled to break down an organised American defence.

Instead, it was the United States that found the decisive second goal.

After Sergino Dest won a free-kick just outside the penalty area in the 82nd minute, Tillman stepped up and curled a brilliant effort over the wall and beyond goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj to make it 2-0.

The goal ensured a comfortable finish for the co-hosts, who closed out the match without further alarm.

The victory extends the United States impressive home World Cup campaign and sets up a reunion with Belgium, who dramatically defeated Senegal 3-2 after extra time earlier on Wednesday.

The Americans lost 5-2 to Belgium in a friendly within the past year, but Pochettino believes his side has grown considerably.

"So proud of all my players," the Argentina coach said after the final whistle.

Christian Pulisic also praised his teammates for their resilience.

"We had to dig deep for that one. It didn't go exactly to plan with the red card, but that just shows what a good team we are," Pulisic said.

"This is what it takes to be a really strong team, and we were able to do it."

The United States will now face Belgium in Seattle on Monday, with a place in the World Cup quarter-finals at stake.