With that, five Round of 16 fixtures are now confirmed in the FIFA World Cup. Fans will have to wait until tomorrow to see which other sides progress to join them in the next stage of the competition.
Tonight’s outcomes also deliver a nostalgic rematch as the United States will once again face Belgium in the knockout rounds — a repeat of their memorable 2014 World Cup clash.
FULL-TIME: USA 2-0 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
The United States clinched their first World Cup knockout victory since 2002, triumphing despite being reduced to ten men for the final 15 minutes. The atmosphere in Santa Clara was electric as the Americans displayed impressive composure and maturity to seal the win.
GOAL USA!
Malik Tillman doubled the advantage with a superb direct free-kick, giving the U.S. a crucial cushion in the closing stages.
ANOTHER GOAL RULED OUT FOR THE USA!
Christian Pulisic appeared to have scored amid a goalmouth scramble, but his effort was disallowed for offside, as he had drifted just beyond the defensive line before applying the final touch.
With Balogun sent off, the U.S. were forced to dig deep as Bosnia and Herzegovina mounted late pressure in the dying minutes.
RED CARD FOR THE UNITED STATES
Folarin Balogun was dismissed following a VAR review after his studs caught a Bosnian player on the leg during a challenge. The U.S. bench was visibly stunned by the decision, leaving Pochettino’s men to finish the match with ten players.
The encounter was fiercely contested, with physical battles dominating throughout. Bosnia suffered a setback when veteran striker Edin Džeko, aged 40, was forced off injured. His replacement, Bosnian-American forward Esmir Bajraktarević, once of Major League Soccer, entered the fray in his place.
HALF-TIME: USA 1-0 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Balogun’s first-half strike separated the two sides at the interval. The striker, who had been a constant threat, nearly doubled his tally when his close-range effort clipped the crossbar. He continues to emerge as the key figure under Mauricio Pochettino.
GOAL USA!
Balogun opened the scoring by reacting quickest to a deflection and slotting home from near the penalty spot. It was his third goal of the tournament and cemented his status as the most dangerous attacker for the hosts.
USA GOAL RULED OUT!
Earlier, Balogun thought he had given the U.S. the lead after capitalising on a defensive lapse, but the assistant referee’s flag denied him for offside.
Moments later, Balogun was brought down in the box but the referee waved away penalty appeals, choosing not to consult VAR. The match remained tense and physical, with both sides struggling to find space in the opening exchanges.
Goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj required treatment after taking a knee to the face, though he was able to continue. Bosnia had the better early chances, forcing Matt Freese into a fine acrobatic save to prevent an olimpico from a corner. Edin Džeko also set up Ermedin Demirović, whose shot was parried away by Freese.
Christian Pulisic came close for the hosts after a mazy solo run, but his shot deflected wide. The United States dominated possession, pushing Bosnia deep into their own half in the early minutes. The winner of this tie was destined to meet Belgium in the last 16 at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
END OF EXTRA-TIME: BELGIUM 3-2 SENEGAL
In Seattle, Belgium produced a stunning comeback to eliminate Senegal after Youri Tielemans converted a 120th-minute penalty to seal a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory. It was a heartbreaking end for Senegal, who had controlled the game for the first 86 minutes.
GOAL FOR BELGIUM
Tielemans stepped up confidently to dispatch his spot-kick into the top-right corner, securing the win for the Red Devils in the final minute.
PENALTY FOR BELGIUM
VAR intervention awarded Belgium a late penalty after Tielemans was brought down in the box by Lamine Camara. The decision proved decisive.
Earlier, Dodi Lukébakio rattled the crossbar with a fierce drive, while Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye went close with a first-time effort just wide. The first period of extra-time ended with Belgium looking increasingly dangerous after their spirited comeback.
END OF REGULATION: BELGIUM 2-2 SENEGAL
After trailing 2-0, Belgium produced a rapid turnaround with two goals in quick succession — headers from Romelu Lukaku and Tielemans — to force extra-time.
GOAL FOR SENEGAL
Senegal had earlier seized control through Ismaïla Sarr, who latched onto Moussa Niakhaté’s long pass and finished powerfully for his fourth goal of the tournament. Habib Diarra had earlier tapped in from close range after Courtois was beaten and the rebound struck the post.
Belgium’s Maxim De Cuyper and Jérémy Doku both tested Senegal goalkeeper Mory Diaw, but the African side held firm until Belgium’s late revival. Sadio Mané also went close for Senegal before the break.
FULL TIME: ENGLAND 2-1 DR CONGO
England progressed to the last 16 with a hard-fought 2-1 win over DR Congo in Atlanta. Harry Kane scored both goals for the Three Lions, including the winner in the second half. Despite a resilient showing from DR Congo and several brilliant saves by goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, England held firm.
Brian Cipenga had earlier given DR Congo a surprise lead, capitalising on defensive confusion to score past Jordan Pickford. Kane equalised with a header from Anthony Gordon’s cross before doubling his tally later on.
Thomas Tuchel’s side made several tactical adjustments, with substitutions including Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, and Gordon. England created numerous chances, with Bellingham, Rashford, and Rice all forcing saves from the inspired Mpasi. DR Congo’s Wan-Bissaka even struck the post in a thrilling encounter filled with tension and drama.
England will now face Mexico in the Round of 16, while DR Congo exit the tournament with their heads held high after pushing one of the favourites to the limit.
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