USMNT edges Bosnia 2-0, reaches Round of 16 despite Balogun red card
Pochettino's side secures knockout berth in Qatar but must navigate Belgium tie without suspended striker Balogun.
The United States men's national team, led by manager Mauricio Pochettino, secured a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina to punch their ticket to the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. Goals from Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah sealed the win at a packed Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on December 2, 2022. The result keeps the Americans' tournament ambitions alive in a World Cup they co-host with Canada and Mexico.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 75th minute when striker Folarin Balogun received a straight red card for a second bookable offense, reducing the USMNT to 10 men. Balogun's suspension means he will miss the critical Round of 16 clash against Belgium, a team ranked 2nd in the FIFA world and boasting talents like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. Pochettino now faces a tactical puzzle: how to replace Balogun's pace and finishing in a high-stakes knockout tie.
