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US Beats Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sets Up Matchup Against Belgium
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Sports

US Beats Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sets Up Matchup Against Belgium

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Folarin Balogun scored his third World Cup goal before being sent off, but Malik Tillman's free-kick secured a 2-0 win for the 10-man United States against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • The victory advanced the US to the round of 16, where they will face Belgium in Seattle.
  • Coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed belief in the team's potential for a deep run, despite Balogun's suspension for the next match.

The United States secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, advancing to the World Cup round of 16 despite playing the final half-hour with 10 men. Folarin Balogun opened the scoring in the 45th minute, marking his third goal of the tournament. However, his match took a turn in the 64th minute when he received a red card for a foul on Tarik Muharemovic.

Despite being a man down, the Americans extended their lead in the 82nd minute. Malik Tillman curled a free-kick from just outside the box, which deflected off the diving goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj's hand and into the net. Star player Christian Pulisic had a goal disallowed for offside earlier in the second half.

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. We said in the hydration break, you know, this is what it takes to be a really strong team. And, we were able to do it.

— Christian PulisicThe US player reflected on the team's resilience after playing with 10 men.

"We had to dig deep for that one," said Pulisic, quoted by The Associated Press. "It didn’t go exactly to plan with the red card, but that just shows what a good team we are. We said in the hydration break, you know, this is what it takes to be a really strong team. And, we were able to do it."

I’s about to keep dreaming. In football all is possible if you believe.

— Mauricio PochettinoUS coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed his belief in the team's potential after the victory.

The win sets up a challenging matchup against Belgium in Seattle on Monday. Balogun will miss that game due to an automatic suspension resulting from his red card. Coach Mauricio Pochettino, however, remained optimistic. "In football all is possible if you believe," he stated, singing along to 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' after the match.

Balogun's three goals tie him with Landon Donovan for the second-most goals by an American in a single World Cup. Tillman acknowledged the team's depth, saying, "We have great players who can replace him, and give the best they can, and hopefully score some nice goals as well." The US team, favored in this knockout round match for the first time on record, aims for a deep run on home soil.

Of course he’s a great player. We have great players who can replace him, and give the best they can, and hopefully score some nice goals as well.

— Malik TillmanTillman commented on the team's ability to cope with Balogun's suspension.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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