The biggest American men’s soccer victory in a generation came at a high cost. But the price the USA paid at Levi’s Stadium to earn a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup’s Round of 32 made one thing very clear.
This team is different. Very different.
Leading 1-0 on a first-half goal from Folarin Balogun, a long ball was played into the Bosnian half and the US goal scorer tussled with Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic for the ball. Balogun reached his right leg toward the ball and ended up swiping his cleat down Muharemovic’s calf, eventually landing with a stomp on the defender’s ankle.
There wasn’t any intent to injure in the play; both men were going for the ball and Balogun was not moving like he intended to harm Muharemovic. But when slowed down in instant replay – as it was seen by referee Raphael Claus after video assistant referee flagged the play – it looked awful. The difference between the full-speed initial read – no call at all, not even a foul – and the replays served up by the VAR could not have been starker.
It’s a level of cool, calm and collected that Americans are not used to seeing from their men’s soccer team. It’s a level that some teams never reach – just ask the Italians sitting at home because they could not stop Bosnia and Herzegovina from scoring after a red card in the World Cup qualifier, a loss that kept the Azzuri home watching this tournament.
That mentality is something expected of, and achieved by, the world’s best teams. It might be a signal that the USA is moving toward joining that club.
The Bosnians prepared to put the US under siege. They put as many attackers as they could onto the pitch. They intended to turn up the pressure higher and higher until the Americans broke and allowed the critical goal.
And then the person who scored the all-important second goal of the match had a German accent, not Bosnian.
Tillman – born in Germany to an American father and German mother – stepped up after Sergiño Dest was fouled by Stjepan Radeljic just outside the US box. Winning the free kick itself served as a pressure release valve, allowing the USA some time to breathe without being backed up against their own goal. But it was also in a dangerous position.
Tillman took a short run-up and curled his right-footed shot over the Bosnian wall, off the glove of keeper Nikola Vasilj and into the net. He wheeled away toward the stands, his team rushing toward him as the crowd went bonkers. It was a golden moment, born of steel and skill.
