Santa Clara, California. Folarin Balogun scored his third goal of the World Cup before being sent off in the second half, and Malik Tillman added a free-kick goal as the 10-man United States beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 on Wednesday night to advance to the Round of 16.

Balogun broke the deadlock in the 45th minute after having a goal disallowed for offside 14 minutes earlier. The Americans were forced to play with 10 men after he was shown a red card in the 64th minute for a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic.

Christian Pulisic had a goal ruled out for offside in the 78th minute before Tillman sealed the victory four minutes later, curling a free kick from just outside the penalty area beyond the outstretched right hand of goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.

"We had to dig deep for that one," Pulisic said. "It didn't go exactly to plan with the red card, but that just shows what a good team we are. We said during the hydration break, 'This is what it takes to be a really strong team,' and we were able to do it."

The victory was only the second knockout-stage win for the United States at a World Cup in the modern era. The Americans reached the semifinals at the inaugural tournament in 1930 by winning their group and advanced past Mexico in the Round of 16 in 2002.

The victory in the Round of 32 of the expanded 48-team tournament sets up a meeting with Belgium on Monday in Seattle as the Americans seek a deep run on home soil. Belgium defeated the United States 2-1 after extra time in the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup.

"It's about keeping the dream alive," US coach Mauricio Pochettino said after singing along to "Take Me Home, Country Roads" as it played over the public-address system following 10 minutes of stoppage time. "In football, everything is possible if you believe."

Balogun, the United States' leading scorer in the tournament with three goals, will miss the match against Belgium because of an automatic suspension. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus issued the red card after a video review determined Balogun had stepped on Muharemovic's ankle, although the contact appeared accidental.

"For me, never a red card," Pochettino said after becoming the first US coach to win three World Cup matches.

Balogun matched Landon Donovan's three-goal tally from the 2010 World Cup, trailing only Bert Patenaude's four goals at the inaugural tournament in 1930 among American players.

"Of course he's a great player," Tillman said. "But we have great players who can replace him, give everything they have and hopefully score some nice goals as well."

Tillman switched his right boot shortly before scoring the first US World Cup goal from a direct free kick since Eric Wynalda's strike against Switzerland in the opening match of the 1994 tournament. He later revealed he had been playing with a bloodied sock wrapped around his big toe.

"You never know when it's going to happen," Tillman said. "Today it happened."

The match was played less than 20 miles from Stanford Stadium, where the United States lost 1-0 to heavily favored Brazil in the Round of 16 at the 1994 World Cup.

This time, the Americans entered as favorites in a World Cup knockout match for the first time and rewarded a large contingent of red, white and blue-clad supporters at Levi's Stadium, who chanted "U-S-A! U-S-A!" throughout the closing minutes.

The victory also ended the United States' long winless run against European opposition at the World Cup, dating back to its victory over Portugal in the 2002 tournament.

Bosnia created the better early chances, forcing goalkeeper Matt Freese into two sharp saves to deny Ermedin Demirovic after a deceptive goal kick caught the US defense off guard, before Kerim Alajbegovic nearly scored directly from the ensuing corner.

Balogun then took control. After seeing one goal ruled out for offside and appealing unsuccessfully for penalties on two separate occasions, he finally broke through just before halftime. Tim Ream intercepted a Bosnia goal kick near midfield, Tillman threaded a pass into the penalty area, and Balogun slid a left-footed finish beyond Vasilj.

He celebrated with his version of LeBron James' signature "Silencer" gesture, drawing a positive reaction from the NBA superstar on social media.

"We conceded a goal because of our own mistake," Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez said through an interpreter. "Unfortunately, at this level, mistakes are punished immediately."

Balogun nearly doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, but his close-range effort struck the crossbar.

Bosnia's second World Cup appearance nevertheless marked a milestone after the team advanced to the knockout stage for the first time, following a draw with Canada and a victory over Qatar in the group phase.

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