Folarin Balogun became just the third player to score at least three goals at the same World Cup for the U.S. men’s national team with his opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Yet, it was his entry into another select group which could prove to be even more significant.
Midway through the second half of Wednesday’s dramatic round of 32 tie in Santa Clara, Calif., Balogun was shown the first red card of his international career, becoming just the fifth U.S. male to get sent off in a World Cup. An awkward landing was interpreted by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus as a “serious foul” which, following a VAR review, earned him a straight red card.
