The United States recorded a 2-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina. It is their first knockout round win since 2002.
Matt Freese started in net behind the backline of Chris Richards, Alex Freeman, Tim Ream, and Antonee Robinson. Sergino Dest and Christian Pulisic were on the wings, while Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Malik Tillman were the men in the middle. Balogun was the lone striker.
Bosnia was led by Edin Dzeko, Sead Kolašinac, Kerim Alajbegović, Ermedin Demirović, Amar Dedić. Esmir Bajraktarevic started the match on the bench.
Freese was called into action early batting a shot away in the 10th minute. On the ensuing corner kick Kerim Alajbegović nearly scored an Olimpico but Frese once again batted the ball out of danger.
The United States responded with Balogun getting a chance of his own in the 15th minute, but a poor touch saw the ball flutter out of bounds. The striker got another chance in the 29th minute as he was in a one-v-one situation and appeared to get clattered by a defender but no foul was called.
Balogun falls, not a penalty
— JM =^) (@jm539581.bsky.social) July 1, 2026 at 8:30 PM
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Balogun followed up the chance with a superb effort that saw him slot the ball in the back of the net in the 31st minute but the striker was offside and the goal was called back.
The Monaco man would eventually get his goal just before halftime. Tillman played a ball towards goal that was deflected by a Bosnian right to the feet of Balogun. The striker did not let the chance go to waste and slotted home his third goal of the tournament.
This one counts! Balogun scores and hits the Silencer again, 1-0 USA
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) July 1, 2026 at 8:48 PM
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In the 50th minute, Armin Gigović, Ivan Šunjić, and Dzeko and were replaced by Benjamin Tahirović, Ermin Mahmić, and Bajraktarević.
After a superb first half, Balogun's night came to an early end. The striker raked the back of an opponent's legs and was issued a red card after VAR intervened in the 64th minute.
Do not like the red for Balogun
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) July 1, 2026 at 9:32 PM
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Bosnia made additional changes in the 75th minute as Nikola Katić and Kolašinac were replaced with Amar Memić and Haris Tabaković.
The final nail in the coffin came courtesy of Tillman, who buried home a beautiful free kick in the 83rd minute. The U.S made two changes in the 88th minute as Ricardo Pepi and Sebastian Berhalter replaced Dest and Pulisic. Then in stoppage time Gio Reyna replaced McKennie
Now the U.S. will face Belgium in the Round of 16.
