Gutsy USMNT Claw Past Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-0, Into Round of 16
- Ronan Briscoe
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Credit Opta Analyst
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
One. That's the number of FIFA World Cup knockout stage victories the United States had ever recorded when the players took the field in Santa Clara on Thursday. After one of the gutsiest performances in the history of this nation, that number now sits at two.
From the opening whistle, it appeared the game would follow what many thought the script would be. The United States would dominate possession, Bosnia & Herzegovina would make their defensive lines rigid and pounce on any opportunities they could find.
Both teams traded chances early, with Ermedin Demirovic testing Matt Freese in the 10th minute, and Folarin Balogun finding multiple opportunities he surely would want back. Then, in the 31st minute, Balogun found the back of the net only to be ruled offside.
However, just as the match ticked into first-half stoppage time in the 45th, Balogun again beat Bosnian keeper Nikola Vasilj, and this time the goal would stand. The United States went into the halftime break up a goal, and with all the momentum.
In the second half, the United States tried to parlay that momentum into a second goal, but the Bosnian defense again proved stingy, and there was no change to the scoreline early. Then, disaster struck as Folarin Balogun, the American goalscorer, was very controversially shown a red card for a foul on Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic in the 62nd minute after video review.
Despite the man advantage, Bosnia weren't able to seriously test the American defense the rest of the game bar a couple of nervy moments. But, the United States found their moments and seriously applied pressure. Much the same as Balogun, in the 78th minute it was Christian Pulisic who had a goal ruled out for offside. But that was mere prelude to the dagger.
In the 82nd minute, Stjepan Radeljic was shown a yellow card for fouling Sergiño Dest just outside the Bosnian penalty area. Malik Tillman stepped up to take the direct free kick, bent it over the wall, and despite a touch from Vasilj, into the back of the net.
It was the first time an American had scored from a direct free kick since Jozy Altidore did so just a few weeks shy of nine years ago, in the very same Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. On that occasion, it was the opening goal of the 2017 Gold Cup Final. On this occasion, it was the goal that sent the United States into the Round of 16 of a home World Cup.
Earlier in the day, Belgium rallied from a two goal deficit against Senegal to punch their ticket to the Round of 16, and it will be Belgium who faces these United States in Seattle on Monday night. It will be just over 12 years to the day that Belgium eliminated the United States in heartbreaking fashion in the Round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup despite an all-time performance from Tim Howard.
Several Belgian players from that game, including goalscorers Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, will ostensibly feature for the Red Devils on Monday. What better occasion to exorcise old demons than against the Red Devils? All that's at stake is a first appearance in the quarterfinal round since 2002.
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