by Craig Laycock
Original article:
USA 2 - 0 Bosnia
Balogun (45'), Tillman(82') | RED CARD: Balogun (64')
Despite playing with ten men for half an hour in the second half, USA comfortably beat a lacklustre Bosnia without really getting out of first gear, in a result that was not particularly revealing as to the strengths of the USA.
A lack of urgency from Bosnia, perhaps deriving from a patient approach that saw them hope to make the most of set pieces, meant that it is hard to suggest anything other than this result would have been a fair outcome.
The USA supporters were delirious come the final whistle, but you get the sense that they haven’t truly been tested yet, and perhaps will evade further scrutiny in the last 16 with upcoming opponents Belgium offering very little for 80 minutes against Senegal in their game before miraculously coming back to win it.
That’s not to say the USA are bad, far from it. Their wins in the group stage underlined their credentials, and their win over Paraguay - who dumped 4 time champions Germany out of the cup - was a particular highlight.
But, make no mistake, Bosnia were atrocious. Their xG output of 0.2 is less reflective of the high quality of USA’s defence and a damning indictment of Bosnia’s attack as they looked bereft of ideas.
With both sides passing the ball around calmly and without any great urgency in the opening stages, it took until the 45th minute to get a real breakthrough. Folarin Balogun was the man of the moment again, latching onto a loose ball to slot home a low shot past Bosnia keeper Vasilj.
Balogun went from hero to zero, perhaps slightly unfairly, in the 64th minute when he saw red after a slightly loose challenge on Tarik Muharemovic. Replays showed that Balogun put his studs along the back of the Bosnian’s ankle, and while it clearly wasn’t intentional, upon review he had to go. Judge for yourself below.
Playing out the rest of the game with 10 men, you would expect Bosnia to push forwards with their superior numbers, but they remained patiently sticking to the game plan. Although they controlled the ball for large parts of the second half after the sending off, they didn’t look threatening at all.
And it was the USA who bagged the critical 2nd goal to kill off the game via a free kick which was lifted up and over the wall by Malik Tillman. The goalkeeper for Bosnia looked like he was jumping in slow motion and couldn’t get near it. A great free kick to hit the target, but poor again from Bosnia and many of the keepers at this competition would have saved it.
In the end, the USA fans were happy when the final whistle was blown, Bosnia looked pretty much accepting of their fate, and I was delighted to finally be able to switch it off. Not one to live long in the memory.
USA face Belgium in the last 16 next.
6 min read
Last 32: 10-man USA win as Bosnia sink without trace
Keeper should be saving that.
6 min read
USA 2 - 0 Bosnia
Balogun (45'), Tillman(82') | RED CARD: Balogun (64')
Despite playing with ten men for half an hour in the second half, USA comfortably beat a lacklustre Bosnia without really getting out of first gear, in a result that was not particularly revealing as to the strengths of the USA.
A lack of urgency from Bosnia, perhaps deriving from a patient approach that saw them hope to make the most of set pieces, meant that it is hard to suggest anything other than this result would have been a fair outcome.
The USA supporters were delirious come the final whistle, but you get the sense that they haven’t truly been tested yet, and perhaps will evade further scrutiny in the last 16 with upcoming opponents Belgium offering very little for 80 minutes against Senegal in their game before miraculously coming back to win it.
That’s not to say the USA are bad, far from it. Their wins in the group stage underlined their credentials, and their win over Paraguay - who dumped 4 time champions Germany out of the cup - was a particular highlight.
But, make no mistake, Bosnia were atrocious. Their xG output of 0.2 is less reflective of the high quality of USA’s defence and a damning indictment of Bosnia’s attack as they looked bereft of ideas.
With both sides passing the ball around calmly and without any great urgency in the opening stages, it took until the 45th minute to get a real breakthrough. Folarin Balogun was the man of the moment again, latching onto a loose ball to slot home a low shot past Bosnia keeper Vasilj.
Balogun went from hero to zero, perhaps slightly unfairly, in the 64th minute when he saw red after a slightly loose challenge on Tarik Muharemovic. Replays showed that Balogun put his studs along the back of the Bosnian’s ankle, and while it clearly wasn’t intentional, upon review he had to go. Judge for yourself below.
Playing out the rest of the game with 10 men, you would expect Bosnia to push forwards with their superior numbers, but they remained patiently sticking to the game plan. Although they controlled the ball for large parts of the second half after the sending off, they didn’t look threatening at all.
And it was the USA who bagged the critical 2nd goal to kill off the game via a free kick which was lifted up and over the wall by Malik Tillman. The goalkeeper for Bosnia looked like he was jumping in slow motion and couldn’t get near it. A great free kick to hit the target, but poor again from Bosnia and many of the keepers at this competition would have saved it.
In the end, the USA fans were happy when the final whistle was blown, Bosnia looked pretty much accepting of their fate, and I was delighted to finally be able to switch it off. Not one to live long in the memory.
USA face Belgium in the last 16 next.
Last 32: 10-man USA win as Bosnia sink without trace
Keeper should be saving that.
Original article:
USA 2 - 0 Bosnia
Balogun (45'), Tillman(82') | RED CARD: Balogun (64')
Despite playing with ten men for half an hour in the second half, USA comfortably beat a lacklustre Bosnia without really getting out of first gear, in a result that was not particularly revealing as to the strengths of the USA.
A lack of urgency from Bosnia, perhaps deriving from a patient approach that saw them hope to make the most of set pieces, meant that it is hard to suggest anything other than this result would have been a fair outcome.
The USA supporters were delirious come the final whistle, but you get the sense that they haven’t truly been tested yet, and perhaps will evade further scrutiny in the last 16 with upcoming opponents Belgium offering very little for 80 minutes against Senegal in their game before miraculously coming back to win it.
That’s not to say the USA are bad, far from it. Their wins in the group stage underlined their credentials, and their win over Paraguay - who dumped 4 time champions Germany out of the cup - was a particular highlight.
But, make no mistake, Bosnia were atrocious. Their xG output of 0.2 is less reflective of the high quality of USA’s defence and a damning indictment of Bosnia’s attack as they looked bereft of ideas.
With both sides passing the ball around calmly and without any great urgency in the opening stages, it took until the 45th minute to get a real breakthrough. Folarin Balogun was the man of the moment again, latching onto a loose ball to slot home a low shot past Bosnia keeper Vasilj.
Balogun went from hero to zero, perhaps slightly unfairly, in the 64th minute when he saw red after a slightly loose challenge on Tarik Muharemovic. Replays showed that Balogun put his studs along the back of the Bosnian’s ankle, and while it clearly wasn’t intentional, upon review he had to go. Judge for yourself below.
Playing out the rest of the game with 10 men, you would expect Bosnia to push forwards with their superior numbers, but they remained patiently sticking to the game plan. Although they controlled the ball for large parts of the second half after the sending off, they didn’t look threatening at all.
And it was the USA who bagged the critical 2nd goal to kill off the game via a free kick which was lifted up and over the wall by Malik Tillman. The goalkeeper for Bosnia looked like he was jumping in slow motion and couldn’t get near it. A great free kick to hit the target, but poor again from Bosnia and many of the keepers at this competition would have saved it.
In the end, the USA fans were happy when the final whistle was blown, Bosnia looked pretty much accepting of their fate, and I was delighted to finally be able to switch it off. Not one to live long in the memory.
USA face Belgium in the last 16 next.
6 min read
Last 32: 10-man USA win as Bosnia sink without trace
Keeper should be saving that.
USA 2 - 0 Bosnia
Balogun (45'), Tillman(82') | RED CARD: Balogun (64')
Despite playing with ten men for half an hour in the second half, USA comfortably beat a lacklustre Bosnia without really getting out of first gear, in a result that was not particularly revealing as to the strengths of the USA.
A lack of urgency from Bosnia, perhaps deriving from a patient approach that saw them hope to make the most of set pieces, meant that it is hard to suggest anything other than this result would have been a fair outcome.
The USA supporters were delirious come the final whistle, but you get the sense that they haven’t truly been tested yet, and perhaps will evade further scrutiny in the last 16 with upcoming opponents Belgium offering very little for 80 minutes against Senegal in their game before miraculously coming back to win it.
That’s not to say the USA are bad, far from it. Their wins in the group stage underlined their credentials, and their win over Paraguay - who dumped 4 time champions Germany out of the cup - was a particular highlight.
But, make no mistake, Bosnia were atrocious. Their xG output of 0.2 is less reflective of the high quality of USA’s defence and a damning indictment of Bosnia’s attack as they looked bereft of ideas.
With both sides passing the ball around calmly and without any great urgency in the opening stages, it took until the 45th minute to get a real breakthrough. Folarin Balogun was the man of the moment again, latching onto a loose ball to slot home a low shot past Bosnia keeper Vasilj.
Balogun went from hero to zero, perhaps slightly unfairly, in the 64th minute when he saw red after a slightly loose challenge on Tarik Muharemovic. Replays showed that Balogun put his studs along the back of the Bosnian’s ankle, and while it clearly wasn’t intentional, upon review he had to go. Judge for yourself below.
Playing out the rest of the game with 10 men, you would expect Bosnia to push forwards with their superior numbers, but they remained patiently sticking to the game plan. Although they controlled the ball for large parts of the second half after the sending off, they didn’t look threatening at all.
And it was the USA who bagged the critical 2nd goal to kill off the game via a free kick which was lifted up and over the wall by Malik Tillman. The goalkeeper for Bosnia looked like he was jumping in slow motion and couldn’t get near it. A great free kick to hit the target, but poor again from Bosnia and many of the keepers at this competition would have saved it.
In the end, the USA fans were happy when the final whistle was blown, Bosnia looked pretty much accepting of their fate, and I was delighted to finally be able to switch it off. Not one to live long in the memory.
USA face Belgium in the last 16 next.
6 min read