On Thursday, American striker Folarin Balogun achieved a notable, if unfortunate, milestone in FIFA World Cup history. The 24-year-old became the fourth player ever to both score a goal and be dismissed with a red card during a knockout stage fixture.
The events unfolded at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium during the USA’s 2-0 triumph over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32. Balogun contributed to the scoreline before his participation ended abruptly when he was sent off for a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic, where his foot made contact with the opponent’s ankle.
This outcome puts Balogun in an exclusive category alongside legends such as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, and Garrincha, who each performed the same feat in previous tournaments. While the striker faces a mandatory suspension for the upcoming Round of 16 match, USA manager Mauricio Pochettino stood by his player. Pochettino argued that the collision was purely incidental and not a malicious act, expressing disagreement with the official’s decision to show a red card.
