Balogun gets US's go-ahead goal against Bosnia and then red card

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Folarin Balogun's night in the World Cup's round of 32 was a roller coaster of emotions.

It began with his third goal of the tournament to put the United States in the lead against Bosnia-Herzegovina and ended prematurely when he was given a red card early in the second half that will force him to miss the next game.

“It’s so unfortunate honestly," teammate Christian Pulisic said following Wednesday's 2-0 win. “It just seems so harsh for us to get that. He’s done so much for us, and now we got his back. If he has to miss the next game, it’s just ridiculous for something like that.”

Balogun celebrated a goal with The Silencer move used by the NBA’s LeBron James — twice — but the first time he put the ball in the net the goal was disallowed for offside.

He received a red card from Brazilian referee Raphael Claus for stepping on Tarik Muharemovic's right ankle. Claus didn't initially signal a card but showed Balogun red after a video review.

“It never was intentional,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “It’s never a red card. Never. ... If the intention is to damage the opponent, OK, I understand. But that never was. It was a normal action in football that you are fighting for the ball and your feet land.”

Balogun became the third player to score and be sent off in a World Cup knockout game after Brazil's Ronaldinho in a 2002 quarterfinal against England and France's Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 final against Italy.

“Pretty cool record, huh,” teammate Chris Richards said.

Balogun has to serve an automatic one-game suspension for Monday’s round of 16 game against Belgium. There is no appeal process for a red card suspension unless FIFA assesses a penalty of more than one game.

Teammate Weston McKennie called the lack of an appeal process “bogus” and disagreed with the call made after the video review.

“Obviously the ref made a decision that he made, but I think it’s questionable,” McKennie said. “I think there’s been many other plays like that throughout the tournament on other players that a card wasn’t given at all. It’s disappointing.”

Balogun was consoled on the field by Pulisic and Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac following the decision and did come back out to celebrate with his teammates after the game. He even shook hands with the officials despite the call that went against him.

Now the U.S. likely will turn to Ricardo Pepi or Haji Wright for the game against Belgium.

“It’s a tough decision to make,” Wright said about the call. “In the heat of the moment I think the stills (photos) look worse than it did live. But I’m always ready and prepared to do my best for the team.”

After Balogun's goal was disallowed for offside in the 31st minute, he put the U.S. ahead in the 45th minute as Malik Tillman's pass was deflected into his path by Bosnia's Stjepan Radeljic with a sliding clearance attempt.

The ball deflected off a foot of Muharemovic and bounced in front of Balogun, who with his left foot sent the ball between goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj and the far post for his third goal of the tournament and his 12th international goal.

James, a 41-year-old who is the NBA's career scoring leader, designed the celebration to quiet a hostile opposing crowd. For his part, James also celebrated on social media.

Balogun matched Landon Donovan in 2010 for the second-most goals by an American in a World Cup, behind only Bert Patenaude's four in the initial tournament in 1930.

Balogun received the Americans' fifth World Cup red card after Eric Wynalda against Czechoslovakia in 1990, Fernando Clavijo against Brazil in 1994, and Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope against Italy in 2006