World Cup co-hosts United States secured their place in the last 16 with a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina despite seeing star man Folarin Balogun sent off.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men were comfortably the better side in the San Francisco Bay Area as they claimed a first knockout win since their run to the quarter-finals in 2002.
Having earlier had a goal disallowed, USA talisman Balogun fittingly opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time with his third goal of the tournament.
Yet it appeared as if the game might turn in Bosnia’s favour when Balogun, following a VAR review, was shown a straight red card for a dangerous, though almost certainly accidental, foul on Tarik Muharemovic.
However, Bosnia never threatened to capitalise on their numerical advantage, and Malik Tilman’s free-kick secured the USA’s place in the next round.
The USA will face Belgium in the last 16 in Seattle next Tuesday, when the absence of the now suspended Balogun may prove more telling.
Mixed fortunes for Balogun but United States end 24-year wait
Pochettino’s side were frustrated for much of the opening period by a well-organised Bosnia defence that appeared to have been breached in the 31st minute when Balogun found the bottom-right corner, only for a composed finish to be ruled out by the linesman’s flag.
But 14 minutes later Balogun had his moment as Tillman’s pass deflected into his path, the Monaco forward making no mistake in slotting home to break the deadlock.
Balogun could have had a second in first-half stoppage time, but his close-range effort from Serginio Dest’s nod down struck the crossbar.
And Balogun’s evening turned sour as he was dismissed following a lengthy VAR check for inadvertently twisting Muharemovic’s ankle against the turf as both players positioned themselves in a fight for the ball.
Still, even without him, the co-hosts were the more threatening side, with Christian Pulisic denied as he bundled home at the end of a fine move from an offside position.
But eight minutes from the end of normal time, Tillman made the most of Bosnia ill-discipline on the edge of their own penalty area by lifting a deft free-kick over the wall and beating Nikola Vasilj, who failed to keep the ball out despite getting a hand to the shot.
Bosnia threatened to halve the deficit with a flurry of decent efforts from long range, but they could do nothing to prevent the home crowd getting the chance to toast a historic victory that sets up an enticing last-16 tie in the Pacific Northwest, albeit one that looks a little less winnable without Balogun.
