Mauricio Pochettino slams Folarin Balogun red card after USA beat Bosnia to reach World Cup last 16

Balogun opened the scoring at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium with his third goal of the tournament with a tap-in from close range on the stroke of half-time.

Malik Tilman secured the result with his late curler on 82 minutes, despite the USA playing nearly half and hour with 10 men after Balogun's dismissal.

The win set up a clash with Belgium, who came from behind in spectacular circumstances in their round of 32 encounter to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra-time.

Reflecting on the game, where Balogun was judged to have stamped on Tarik Muharemovic's foot, Pochettino hit out at the red card decision.

"For me, never is a red card," said Pochettino in the Citizen. "It never was (his) intention to step on the player.

"It was a normal action in football, that you are fighting for the ball, and your feet land, no? Yeah, maybe it was a little bit tough, the scene, to watch. But I think it never was intentional."

Balogun will now miss the last 16 tie unless the USA decide to appeal the decision.

"He's very disappointed, because I think it was an action that was unintentional. But also he's happy because we qualified," added Pochettino.

"We cannot do nothing to change that feeling. That is over. That is football. He needs to understand that this type of situation happens.

"For sure he is going to help us to perform. I hope that we can go to the next round and (he will) be available again."

READ MORE: Folarin Balogun scores but sees red as USA beat Bosnia to set up Belgium clash