United States fall to late Türkiye goal
The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) experienced a 3-2 defeat against Türkiye in their final World Cup Group D match at SoFi Stadium. The decisive goal came in the eighth minute of stoppage time, with substitute Kaan Ayhan scoring the winner for Türkiye. This result marked Türkiye’s only victory in the tournament.
Despite the loss, the USMNT had already secured first place in Group D, having won their first two matches against Paraguay and Australia. The team will now proceed to a knockout match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California.
Mauricio Pochettino’s squad featured nine new starters for the match, with several key players, including Christian Pulisic, initially left out of the lineup. Pulisic, who had been recovering from a calf injury sustained in the opening match, entered the game in the 58th minute to a strong reception.
The USMNT’s early scoring prowess continued, with Auston Trusty finding the net in the third minute. This goal, at 134 seconds, was noted as the second fastest for the Americans in World Cup history after Clint Dempsey’s goal against Ghana in 2014. Trusty’s goal was assisted by Sebastian Berhalter from a corner kick.
Türkiye responded quickly. In the eighth minute, Arda Güler, a Real Madrid player, initiated a move that led to Barış Alper-Yilmaz setting up Güler to score past goalkeeper Matt Turner. Türkiye then took the lead in the 31st minute when Güler combined with Kenan Yıldız, and Eren Elmali’s cross found Orkun Kökçü, who redirected the ball into the net.
The USMNT equalised early in the second half. Approximately three minutes after the break, Berhalter struck a powerful shot from the top of the box, which skipped off the grass and past Türkiye’s goalkeeper, Uğurcan Çakır.
Pulisic’s return and defensive concerns
Pulisic’s introduction in the 58th minute, replacing Tim Weah, marked his first appearance since the first half of the 4-1 victory over Paraguay. He immediately created scoring opportunities, including a shot that was saved by Çakır and another that deflected off the right post in the 63rd minute.
Midfielder Brenden Aaronson acknowledged the team’s missed chances and defensive issues but expressed confidence in the squad. He stated, “We lost the game, but I don’t think it was a game to lose. We had a lot of chances and we could have done better in some defensive plays.”
Defensive midfielder Cristian Roldan was unavailable for the match due to a strained quadriceps, having not trained during the week. This led to Weston McKennie playing in a deeper role. Other key players, including left back Antonee Robinson, center back Chris Richards, and striker Folarin Balogun, were rested to avoid potential suspensions from yellow cards.
The USMNT’s lineup for this match included several players who had not featured in the first two group games, such as Turner, Miles Robinson, Mark McKenzie, and Aaronson. Turner, who played every minute of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, replaced Freese, who had started the previous two matches.
The late winning goal for Türkiye highlighted defensive vulnerabilities for the USMNT. The final touch of the match saw Güler nutmeg Pulisic, and Can Uzun then crossed the ball through Turner’s legs to Ayhan, who scored.
Despite the defeat, the USMNT had already achieved their best group stage performance in the modern era, securing passage to the knockout stage after only two matches, a feat not accomplished since their return to the World Cup in 1990.
The team will now prepare for their knockout match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, who finished third in Group B with a 1-1-1 record.
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Source: sports.yahoo.com
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Joel Kavanagh is a Sports News Writer at News-GB. He started on a Midlands sports desk. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from De Montfort University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Leicester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight calendar. “In sport news, the first ten minutes decide everything.”