International Football: Balogun nets goal, ejected as Americans shut out Bosnia 2-0

The United States secured a spot in the last 16 of the World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking their first World Cup knockout win in nearly a quarter-century and only their second ever, with Folarin Balogun scoring and being sent off in the process.

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This triumph sets the stage for a clash with Belgium in Seattle on Monday, and it was achieved in front of a crowd that had 30 million Americans watching from across the nation, with the California crowd erupting in delight at Balogun's goal on the stroke of half-time.

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However, the striker's joy was short-lived, as he received a red card after VAR intervened following a clash with Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic, forcing the US into a 10-man defensive strategy.

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Despite this setback, Malik Tillman curled in a free kick to secure the win, and the US supporters, who had gathered in the San Francisco Bay Area stadium in a festive mood, were rewarded with a historic victory.

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The traditional pre-match fighter jet flyover in the bright California skies had set the tone for the match, with the US defense quickly establishing a strong presence on the halfway line and pushing forward from the outset.

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Bosnia's tactics were clear from the kickoff, with an immediate long ball, but the US defense held firm, and the best early chances fell to the Bosnian team, with 40-year-old captain Edin Dzeko holding up a launched pass and laying it off for Ermedin Demirovic, who shot straight at Matt Freese.

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The US 'keeper made another good save moments later from a Kerim Alajbegovic corner, which threatened to swing straight into his net, and the US pressure began to tell, with Balogun having a decent penalty shout for a clumsy Amar Dedic tackle waved away.

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Soon after, the American striker had the ball in the net, but was offside from Weston McKennie's smart pass, and those near misses enlivened an increasingly anxious crowd, whose nerves were eventually calmed by Balogun's 45th-minute goal.

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US captain Tim Ream had intercepted a Bosnian goal kick, swiftly playing it to Tillman, whose through ball deflected into the path of Balogun, who tucked it under the goalkeeper, and impressive holding midfielder Tyler Adams nearly created a second before the break.

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He found Sergino Dest, who headed back to Balogun, whose shot from the six-yard line clipped the crossbar on its way over, and just five minutes into the second half, Dzeko limped off, with Bosnian coach Sergej Barbarez making a triple substitution.

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A younger, more mobile front line featuring Wisconsin-born, US-raised Esmir Bajraktarevic immediately pressed higher and faster, and in the 64th minute, Balogun was shown a straight red after VAR review, harshly judged to have stamped on the back of Muharemovic's foot.

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With the crowd stunned, Demirovic spurned a chance to add insult to injury, shooting straight at Freese from a dangerous position, and US 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 game's final phase.

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Despite 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, which Tillman curled over the wall and to the right of Nikola Vasilj, whose fingertips could not keep it out.

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The Americans rode out a nervy 10 minutes of stoppage time, with substitute Ermin Mahmic's shot flashing inches wide of the far post, but they ultimately held out for a clean sheet and a historic win, keeping alive their World Cup journey on home soil.

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The victory was celebrated with "USA" chants and "Take Me Home, Country Roads" reverberating around the giant arena that hosted this year's Super Bowl, as the US team basked in the glory of their triumphant performance.