The USA beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium to move into the World Cup last 16. Malik Tillman’s late free-kick secured the result after Folarin Balogun had been sent off following a VAR review.
Balogun had earlier put the USA ahead before half-time, finishing after a move involving Tim Ream, Weston McKennie and Tillman. The striker also had a first-half effort ruled out for offside and later struck the crossbar, making his dismissal in the second half a major turning point.
Bosnia and Herzegovina gained momentum after the red card, while Edin Dzeko’s injury-enforced exit earlier in the half had already changed the shape of the contest. The USA still found a way to push upfield, and Sergiño Dest’s work near the box led to the free-kick that Tillman converted.
The result sends Mauricio Pochettino’s team into a meeting with Belgium in Seattle. Beyond the scoreline, the match gives editors a strong discussion point: whether this was mainly a display of resilience under pressure or a warning that discipline and game control still need work.
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