BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The United States joined fellow FIFA World Cup co-hosts Mexico and Canada in the Round of 16 on Wednesday after overcoming Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in a dramatic knockout clash that tested both their quality and resilience.

Goals from Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman secured victory for the Americans, who were forced to play much of the second half with 10 men following Balogun’s dismissal.

The triumph marked a significant milestone for the United States, delivering their first knockout-stage victory at a World Cup since their memorable run to the quarter-finals in 2002.

It also ensured that all three host nations remain alive in the tournament, delighting home supporters across North America as the competition enters its decisive phase.

The Americans had struggled to break down a disciplined Bosnian defence for much of the first half before Balogun produced the breakthrough on the stroke of halftime.

The striker benefited from a fortunate deflection off defender Tarik Muharemovic, allowing the ball to fall kindly into his path before he calmly slipped a left-footed effort through the goalkeeper’s legs in the 45th minute.

The goal sparked celebrations among the partisan crowd and appeared to place the hosts firmly in control.

However, the contest took a dramatic turn midway through the second half.

Balogun, the United States’ leading attacking threat, was shown a red card after a heavy challenge on Muharemovic. Referee initially allowed play to continue, but after consulting the Video Assistant Referee, upgraded the punishment and sent the striker off.

With more than 20 minutes remaining, Bosnia sensed an opportunity to mount a comeback against the numerically disadvantaged hosts.

Instead, the Americans responded with determination and discipline.

As Bosnia pushed forward in search of an equaliser, spaces began to open up at the other end. Tillman capitalised in the 82nd minute, curling a superb free kick beyond the goalkeeper to double the United States’ advantage and effectively settle the contest.

The goal sent the crowd into raptures and extinguished any lingering Bosnian hopes of a late revival.

For U.S. coach and players, the victory represents another landmark moment in a tournament already producing memorable scenes for the co-hosts.

Mexico had earlier secured passage to the Round of 16, while Canada also advanced, ensuring all three host nations remain contenders as the knockout rounds gather momentum.

The challenge now becomes significantly tougher.

Awaiting the United States in the Round of 16 are Belgium, who produced one of the most astonishing comebacks in World Cup history earlier on Wednesday, overturning a two-goal deficit in the closing minutes before defeating Senegal 3-2 after extra time.

That victory set up a tantalising showdown between the Americans and the Red Devils, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

For now, though, the United States can savour a historic achievement.

Twenty-four years after their run to the last eight in Korea and Japan, the Americans have finally won another World Cup knockout match — and in front of their own fans, on home soil, during a tournament they are helping to host.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Spain and Austria will meet at a FIFA World Cup for the first time in 48 years when they face off in Thursday’s Round of 32 encounter.

Their only previous World Cup meeting came during the 1978 tournament in Argentina, when Austria claimed a memorable 2-1 victory over the Spaniards in Buenos Aires.

Walter Schachner and Hans Krankl scored for Austria on that occasion, while Dani found the net for Spain in a result that remains one of Austria’s notable World Cup triumphs.

Much has changed since then. Spain have since become world champions, lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010 and establishing themselves as one of the dominant forces in international football.

Austria, meanwhile, arrive in the knockout phase determined to produce another upset and add a new chapter to their World Cup history.

Spain will start as favourites thanks to their possession-based style and wealth of talent, but Austria’s confidence has grown steadily throughout the tournament.

With nearly half a century separating their previous World Cup encounter, both sides will be eager to write a fresh piece of history when they take to the field on Thursday.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA

What a load of rubbish. There is no polite way to describe what Senegal did in Seattle on Wednesday night.

Not when a team is leading 2-0 with four minutes left in regulation time. Not when that team has dominated one of Europe’s traditional powers for almost the entire match. Not when a place in the Round of 16 is virtually secured.

And certainly not when that same team somehow manages to lose 3-2. This was not merely a defeat. It was a sporting catastrophe.

It was a collapse so spectacular that future generations of Senegalese football fans will speak about it with disbelief. Coaches will use it as a warning. Opponents will use it as proof that no game is won until the final whistle.

For 86 minutes, Senegal were magnificent.

They were organised, energetic and tactically superior. Belgium looked exhausted, uninspired and on the verge of elimination. Habib Diarra’s first-half goal was deserved. Ismaila Sarr’s brilliant second-half strike should have buried the contest.

At 2-0, the match was over. Or at least it should have been.

What followed was a footballing meltdown that bordered on the absurd.

The moment Romelu Lukaku pulled one back in the 86th minute, alarm bells should have been ringing across the Senegal bench. The instruction should have been simple: close the game, keep possession, defend intelligently, waste a little time if necessary, and get over the line.

Instead, panic took over.

The composure that had defined Senegal’s performance disappeared. The discipline vanished. Players who had looked assured suddenly looked frightened.

Belgium sensed weakness and attacked.

Within minutes, Youri Tielemans headed home the equaliser.

Even then, Senegal still had extra time to regroup, reorganise and rescue themselves. They did neither.

Instead, they pulled out their most talismanic player, Sadio Mane.

The final insult arrived in the 125th minute when Lamine Camara lunged recklessly into Tielemans inside the penalty area. It was the kind of challenge born not from confidence but from desperation.

VAR confirmed what everyone suspected.

Penalty.

Game over.

World Cup over.

Dream over.

Tielemans converted and Belgium completed one of the greatest escapes in World Cup history.

The painful truth for Senegal is that Belgium did not win this match as much as Senegal handed it to them.

Yes, Belgium showed character.

Yes, Lukaku’s introduction changed the game.

Yes, the Belgians deserve credit for refusing to surrender.

But none of that explains how a team leading 2-0 with only minutes remaining can lose.

The answer lies in game management — or the complete lack of it.

The world’s best teams know how to kill a match. They know when to slow the pace. They know when to keep the ball in the corners. They know when to commit a tactical foul, when to make substitutions, when to frustrate an opponent and when to simply clear their lines.

Senegal did none of those things.

Instead, they gifted Belgium hope.

And hope is the most dangerous thing you can give a wounded giant.

Coach Pape Thiaw said afterwards that his team deserved to win.

Perhaps they did.

But football is not decided on merit alone.

It is decided by concentration.

It is decided by discipline.

It is decided by the ability to finish what you start.

Senegal failed that test spectacularly.

For African football, the defeat is particularly painful because this Senegal side had shown throughout the tournament that it possessed the quality to go deep into the competition. They had the talent, the experience and the momentum.

What they lacked when it mattered most was maturity.

The scoreboard does not record how well you played for 86 minutes.

It records what happened after 120.

And what happened after 120 minutes was a disaster.

Belgium walked away with a place in the next round.

Senegal walked away with regret.

The tragedy is that they were not beaten by Belgium.

They were beaten by themselves. For Africa, another great team has crashed out of the World Cup!

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