For the first time in nearly a quarter-century, the United States has won a World Cup knockout match — and it did so on home soil.

One goal, and one long shadow lifted

The United States beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on Wednesday, with Folarin Balogun scoring the only goal on the stroke of halftime, Al Jazeera's match coverage showed. The result carried unusual weight: the Americans had not won a World Cup knockout game since beating Mexico in the round of 16 in 2002, a drought that had hung over every tournament since.

Balogun the difference

Balogun, the New York-born forward who was raised in England before choosing to play for the United States, thought he had scored earlier in the half, only to be flagged for offside. He made no mistake the second time, finishing inside the box just before the interval to put the hosts ahead, Yahoo Sports reported. It was his second goal of the tournament, making him the U.S. team's leading scorer.

Pulisic back, defense firm

Captain Christian Pulisic, who had been managing a calf injury from the group stage, returned to the starting lineup — a lift for an American attack that spent much of the second half absorbing pressure. Bosnia and Herzegovina, in their first World Cup knockout match, pushed for an equalizer but could not break through a disciplined U.S. back line, which protected the one-goal lead to the final whistle.

A home tournament, and a California stage

Levi's Stadium, normally home to the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, was one of the West Coast venues giving this World Cup the feel of a home tournament for American supporters. Los Angeles is hosting matches of its own at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, and the run has energized fans up and down the state — the kind of shared, uncomplicated enthusiasm a home World Cup can produce.

Belgium next

The reward is a daunting one: a round-of-16 meeting with Belgium, one of the tournament's more talented sides, which advanced from its own group earlier in the competition. Whatever happens there, the Americans have already done something no U.S. team had managed in 24 years — survived a World Cup elimination game — and they have done it in front of a home crowd, at the tournament they are hosting.