1 hour ago Wednesday's triumph implicit Bosnia-Herzegovina successful San Francisco Bay Area Stadium was thoroughly deserved and earned Pochettino's broadside a day with Belgium successful Seattle connected Monday evening (01:00 BST connected Tuesday).
It did not, however, travel without a price.
Folarin Balogun, the 24-year-old erstwhile Arsenal youngster, who inspired the US to a thumping triumph implicit Paraguay with 2 goals to statesman their campaign, added his 3rd of the tourney to interruption the deadlock soon earlier half-time.
He mightiness person had a hat-trick, firing 1 effort wide of the adjacent post, seeing an effort ruled retired for offside and slicing a changeable onto the barroom from adjacent range, but conscionable aft the hr people his night, and perchance his World Cup was ended.
What looked an innocuous tussle with Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic for a looping shot down the near transmission ended with the guardant being shown a consecutive reddish card.
As Balogun attempted to shield the ball, Muharemovic managed to get successful beforehand of him, and arsenic the forward's footwear returned to the crushed it landed connected the backmost of the Bosnian's ankle, causing it to twist gruesomely.
In existent time, and successful each likelihood successful reality, it looked wholly accidental, but Brazilian referee Raphael Claus was sent to the show to ticker a ace slow-motion replay, which gave him small prime but to brandish the reddish card.
It etched Balogun's sanction further into the grounds books.
On the nighttime erstwhile helium became conscionable the 3rd American to people 3 goals successful a World Cup edition, helium besides became the 4th subordinate to some people and beryllium sent disconnected successful a knockout match, pursuing Brazil's Garrincha successful the 1962 semi-final, his compatriot Ronaldinho successful the 2002 quarter-final against England, and France's Zinedine Zidane successful the infamous 2006 last against Italy.
The sending-off brings an contiguous one-game ban, ruling him retired of the Belgium match, but it could yet beryllium extended by Fifa officials to perchance regularisation him retired of the quarter-final and semi-final, should the Americans marque it.
Long-time Fulham people Ricardo Pepi is the antheral astir apt to capable Balogun's boots , though helium has not scored successful his 184 minutes connected the transportation astatine this tournament, nor successful the 4 affable games earlier it.
The PSV man's past planetary extremity came successful a Nations League crippled successful November 2024.
Crystal Palace and US defender Chris Richards said the players were supporting Balogun.
"We told him we person got his back," helium said. "We are a squad of 26, not conscionable one.
"Ultimately we are going to miss him for the adjacent crippled but we cognize whoever is going to measurement up is going to bash a occupation conscionable arsenic good arsenic helium did.
"I deliberation it'll support america stronger. One antheral is down, the adjacent feline steps up. We are a team, we are much than conscionable 1 player, we are much than conscionable 11 players."
Pochettino added: "When Balogun received the reddish card, I thought that is the infinitesimal we request to amusement we are a squad and the eyes of the players were [saying], 'Coach, we are acceptable to spell and fight' and that is amazing.
"These guys are creating a bequest successful this state and with our astonishing fans everything is possible. Why not us?"
English (US)·