<\/p>\n
Folarin Balogun scored and was sent off as the United States beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to reach the last 16 of the World Cup on Thursday AEST.<\/p>\n
The co-hosts\u2019 first World Cup knockout victory in nearly a quarter-century \u2013 and only their second ever \u2013 sets up a clash with Belgium in Seattle on Tuesday AEST.<\/p>\n
Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now ><\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Balogun\u2019s goal on the stroke of halftime had sent the California crowd into delirium, with some 30 million Americans expected to be watching the blockbuster clash across the nation.<\/p>\n But the striker saw red as VAR intervened following a nasty clash with Bosnia\u2019s Tarik Muharemovic. <\/p>\n Even with the US forced into a 10-man rearguard action, Malik Tillman curled in a free kick to secure the win.<\/p>\n MATCH CENTRE: USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina stats <\/a><\/b><\/p>\n US supporters had flocked into the San Francisco Bay Area stadium in festive mood, their exuberant confidence summed up by the traditional pre-match fighter jet flyover in the bright California skies.<\/p>\n Bosnia\u2019s tactics were made clear from the kick-off \u2014 an immediate long ball \u2014 while the US defence quickly camped out on the halfway line, always pushing forward.<\/p>\n Still, Bosnia had the best early chances. Forty-year-old captain Edin Dzeko held up a launched pass from his goalkeeper and laid it off for Ermedin Demirovic, who shot right at Matt Freese.<\/p>\n The US \u2018keeper made another good save moments later from a Kerim Alajbegovic corner, which threatened to swing straight into his net.<\/p>\n But the US pressure began to tell. Balogun had a decent penalty shout for a clumsy Amar Dedic tackle waved away. Soon after the American striker had the ball in the net, but was off-side from Weston McKennie\u2019s smart pass.<\/p>\n Those near misses enlivened an increasingly anxious crowd. But their nerves were soon reduced, as Balogun scored in the 45th minute.<\/p>\n US captain Tim Ream had intercepted a Bosnian goal kick, swiftly playing it to Tillman. His through ball deflected into the path of Balogun, who tucked it under the goalkeeper.<\/p>\n Impressive holding midfielder Tyler Adams nearly created a second before the break. He found Sergino Dest, who headed back to Balogun. His shot from the six-yard line clipped the crossbar on its way over.<\/p>\n Just five minutes into the second half Dzeko limped off. Bosnian coach Sergej Barbarez made a triple substitution.<\/p>\n A younger, more mobile front line featuring Wisconsin-born, US-raised Esmir Bajraktarevic immediately pressed higher and faster.<\/p>\n In the 64th minute, Balogun was shown a straight red after VAR review, harshly judged to have stamped on the back of Muharemovic\u2019s foot.<\/p>\n With the crowd stunned, Demirovic spurned a chance to add insult to injury, shooting straight at Freese from a dangerous position.<\/p>\n US coach Mauricio Pochettino used the hydration break to gather his squad in a tight huddle on the field, rallying his outnumbered troops to hold out for the game\u2019s final phase.<\/p>\n Despite his team suddenly being on the backfoot, Christian Pulisic put the ball in the net, but was comfortably off-side.<\/p>\n And in the 82nd minute, the US won a free kick on the edge of the Bosnian box from a pull on Dest. Tillman curled it over the wall and to the right of Nikola Vasilj, whose fingertips could not keep it out.<\/p>\n The Americans rode out a nervy 10 minutes of stoppage time, substitute Ermin Mahmic\u2019s shot flashing inches wide of the far post.<\/p>\n But they ultimately holding out for a clean sheet and a historic win, keeping alive their World Cup journey on home soil, as \u201cUSA\u201d chants and \u201cTake Me Home, Country Roads\u201d reverberated around the giant arena that hosted this year\u2019s Super Bowl.<\/p>\n Earlier on Thursday, England<\/a> and Belgium<\/a> won thrilling knockout contests against DR Congo and Senegal respectively.<\/p>\n Relive all the action in our live blog below! Can\u2019t see the blog? CLICK HERE<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n