Mauricio Pochettino fumes over red card, USMNT learns Folarin Balogun's fate for Belgium game

As Grey Whitebloom of Sports Illustrated noted, Folarin Balogun became just the third player to score at least three goals at the same FIFA World Cup for the United States men's national team when he helped Team USA earn a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Wednesday's round-of-32 showdown. 

However, the joy Balogun felt when he scored just before halftime disappeared after he was controversially shown a straight red card halfway through the match's second half. Following the victory, United States manager Mauricio Pochettino made his feelings on Balogun's sending off clear. 

Mauricio Pochettino: Folarin Balogun incident "never" a red card

"For me, never is it a red card," Pochettino said, per Sam Borden of ESPN. "Never was there intention to step on the player. ...If the intention is to damage the opponent, OK , I understand. But that was a normal action in football that you are, you know, fighting for the ball and your feet land, no?"

As Pochettino referenced, Balogun and Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic were both in pursuit of the ball when Balogun's right foot landed on Muharemovic's leg, causing Muharemovic's ankle to turn. While the contact seemed unintentional, video assistant referee instructed on-the-pitch referee Raphael Claus of Brazil to go to the monitor. In the 64th minute, Claus showed Balogun the red card. 

"I think there's been many other plays like that throughout the tournament on other players that a card wasn't given at all," United States midfielder Weston McKennie said. "So it's disappointing, and I don't know the protocol of how they come to the conclusion, but yeah, from what my teammates have said, I don't think it's a red card."