The United States is one step closer to an unprecedented World Cup triumph, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side now face a major setback after star striker Folarin Balogun was sent off during their hard-fought victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
A deserved win in San Francisco secured the Americans a quarter-final clash against Belgium, keeping alive Pochettino’s famous rallying cry: “Why not us?” Yet the triumph was overshadowed by an incident that could significantly impact the hosts’ title ambitions.
Balogun, who opened the scoring to register his third goal of the tournament, endured a dramatic night that saw him go from hero to villain.
The former Arsenal forward looked capable of adding more after seeing one effort ruled out for offside, another strike hit the crossbar and a further chance drift narrowly wide. However, just after the hour mark, his evening came to an abrupt end.
Referee Raphael Claus initially allowed play to continue following an aerial challenge with Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic. Still, after a VAR review, the Brazilian official produced a straight red card after slow-motion replays showed Balogun’s boot landing on the defender’s ankle.
While the challenge appeared accidental, the dismissal leaves the United States without one of their most influential attacking players for the crucial meeting with Belgium. FIFA could also review the incident further, potentially extending his suspension beyond one match.
Balogun’s eventful performance placed him in World Cup history for two very different reasons. He became only the third American to score three goals in a single World Cup, and the fourth player ever to both score and receive a red card in a men’s World Cup knockout match, joining Brazil legends Garrincha and Ronaldinho, along with France icon Zinedine Zidane.
With Balogun unavailable, PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi is expected to lead the line despite failing to score in his 184 minutes at the tournament.
Defender Chris Richards insisted the squad would rally behind their suspended teammate.
“We told him we have got his back,” Richards said.
“We are a team of 26, not just one. Obviously we’ll miss him against Belgium, but whoever steps in will be ready.”
Pochettino echoed that belief, praising his players’ response after going down to ten men.
“When Balogun received the red card, I looked into the players’ eyes and they were saying, ‘Coach, we are ready to fight.’ That was amazing,” he said.
“These players are creating a legacy for football in this country. With our fans behind us, everything is possible. Why not us?”
Former England international Sue Smith believes the dismissal actually highlighted America’s growing maturity as a tournament team.
“Once Balogun went off, we saw a really professional USA performance,” she said.
“Defensively they stayed organised, Bosnia threw everything at them but couldn’t break them down. They’ve surprised a lot of people in this tournament and they’ll certainly give Belgium a real test.”
The United States now head into one of the biggest matches in their football history buoyed by growing belief but whether they can continue their remarkable run without Balogun could determine just how far Pochettino’s side can go on home soil.
