By admin 
Malik Tillman gave United States soccer its most important insurance policy in the country’s history.
Read more South Carolina rockets past the rest of the South in growth. What’s driving it?
The 24-year-old midfielder stepped to a free kick in the 82nd minute of Wednesday’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first knockout stage of the World Cup. The Americans, playing in front of a frenzied crowed on home soil in the San Francisco Bay Area, were down a man and nursing a 1-0 lead.
Tillman planted the free kick in the back net, taking advantage of an open side of the net left by keeper Nikola Vasilj. It pushed the score to 2-0 and let pressure release from a stadium packed with stars and stripes.
Tillman did it minutes after getting stepped on and needing to replace his right shoe that had a hole in it. He did his postgame media availability with a blood-soaked sock.
“I’ve been dreaming about this game,” Tillman said. “I’ve been dreaming about maybe taking a free kick and scoring a free kick.”
Tillman noted he spends time after every training session on free kicks — exactly like the one that bent over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s wall of tall defenders for the decisive moment of the American’s World Cup run through its first four games.
“It was perfect. Their team is huge,” forward Haji Wright said of Tillman’s kick. “I think their average (height) on the wall is 6-6.”
Like a number of his teammates, Tillman wasn’t born in the United States. He was born in Nuremberg, Germany. His father, Sheldon Tillman, served in the U.S. military and was stationed in Germany, where he met Malik’s mother, Anja. He holds dual citizenship, allowing him to play on the U.S. men’s national team.
Tillman’s masterpiece led to the United States advancing to the Round of 16 for the eighth time, including in their fifth straight World Cup appearance. They will play Belgium on Monday in Seattle for a chance to reach the quarterfinals, which Team USA hasn’t done since 2002, its only trip to the final eight in the modern era.
The goal gave the Americans some much-needed breathing room while Bosnia and Herzegovina went into attack mode after playing on their heels when the U.S. dominated the first half. They threatened to score on multiple occasions in the waning minutes, but it had little consequence with the host team having a two-goal advantage.
Controversial red card looms large
The story of the game to that point was Folarin Balogun, who scored a goal in the 45th minute and then was given a controversial red card in the second half.
His 64th-minute foul, which the Americans believed was unwarranted and accidental, put the host nation in a precarious position despite being heavy favorites to move on to the Round of 16.
And per FIFA rules, Balogun won’t be available to play against Belgium on Monday. The U.S. is not expected to be able to appeal the decision.
Read more First arrest made in shooting that led to shootout with deputies, SC sheriff says
“It’s so unfortunate,” star midfielder Christian Pulisic said. “Honestly, looking back at it, it seems to harsh. … I just told (Balogun) he’s done so much for us, and now we got his back.
“If he misses the next game, it’s ridiculous for something like that.”
The red card changed the game from what appeared on track for an easy win to a nail-biter. Balogun got tangled with defender Tarik Muharemovic. Balogun stepped on Muharemovic’s ankle, but it didn’t warrant a penalty from referee Raphael Claus in real time.
The video assistant referee called for a review of the play while the two were down getting tended to by trainers, leaving the Americans to nurse their lead down a man for the rest of the game.
Midfielder Weston McKennie said the red card was a hot topic in the locker room.
“I feel like, obviously, the ref made that decision that he made, but I think it’s questionable,” McKennie said. “There’s been many other plays throughout the tournament on other players that a card wasn’t given at all. So it’s disappointing.”
Fox analyst Alexi Lalas after the red card posted a video on X of Argentinian megastar Lionel Messi stepping on an opponents leg earlier in the World Cup and it going uncalled. The video had nearly 900,000 views.
Balogun was the USMNT’s most potent threat in the attacking third by a wide margin and will leave a significant void by being unable to play against Belgium.
The U.S. will likely turn to Ricardo Pepi or Wright at striker Monday in Balogun’s absence.
Pulisic looked rusty while getting his first start since the group stage opener when he was subbed out at halftime with a calf injury. He exited in the 87th minute while only taking one shot. He had an apparent goal negated by being offsides moments before Tillman sealed it with the free kick goal.
Belgium earlier in the day came back from being down two goals to beat Senegal 3-2 in Seattle, capped by a penalty kick from Youri Tielemans in the 125th minute of extra time.
The U.S. and Belgium will play in the World Cup for the first time since the Round of 16 in 2014, when the “Red Devils” outlasted the Americans 2-1 in extra time while scoring goals in the 93rd and 105th minutes.
“I think this game showed our character,” Tillman said. “We will always keep fighting. It showed our character as a group.”
Read more Merged SC agency for developmental disabilities, mental health cuts 248 jobs