The U.S. men’s national team finished its World Cup Round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday night with only 10 players.
After putting the United States up 1-0 in the first half with an impressive goal, striker Folarin Balogun was sent off with a red card in the second half after committing a foul.
Balogun missed the remainder of this match and will also not be allowed to play in the Round of 16 game against Belgium due to the decision.
Advertisement
The U.S. striker was trying to go for the ball but ended up landing on his opponent’s foot.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino vehemently disagreed with the decision after the match.
“For me, never is it a red card,” Pochettino said. “It was a normal action in football that happened by accident. There was never any intention … and that is why, for me, it is never a red card.”
In real time, it looked bad, but maybe not red-card worthy. Slowed down, which the broadcast said was the replay that VAR was using, it looked bad and resulted in Balogun getting sent off.
Pochettino said intent should have been the deciding factor.
Advertisement
“If the intention is to damage the opponent, then I understand,” he said. “But that never was the case. It was a normal football action… It was never intentional.”
Balogun had been the hero for the United States in the first half. It looked like Balogun had scored an early goal to put the U.S. up, but it was waved off because he was offside.
The striker wasn’t dismayed and ended up netting a 45th-minute goal to put the U.S. up just before halftime.
Balogun made infamous history with his ejection. He is just the fourth player to ever score a goal and then get a red card in the same World Cup knockout stage match. The U.S. striker joins a list that includes France‘s Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final, Brazil‘s Ronaldinho in the 2002 quarterfinals and Brazil’s Garrincha in the 1962 semifinals.
Advertisement
Balogun is also the fifth USMNT player to ever receive a red card in a World Cup, and the first since 2006.
Without their starting striker, the U.S. benefited from a game-sealing goal from Malik Tillman in the 82nd minute to secure the 2-0 victory and advance, something Pochettino viewed as a testament to his team’s resilience.
“That was the moment to show everyone — and to show ourselves — that it is not only empty words when we say that we are a family,” he said. “The team showed the capacity to compete and fight for each other.”
The U.S. will play Belgium on Monday in Seattle, but without Balogun.
