Turkey secures late victory against US
The United States national team experienced its first defeat of the World Cup, falling 3-2 to Turkey in a match that saw a late winning goal from Kaan Ayhan. This result came in the US’s final game before the knockout rounds, following earlier victories against Paraguay and Australia. The match was a back-and-forth contest, presenting a significant challenge for the American side.
Turkey, already eliminated from advancing in the tournament, secured its only win of the competition with this performance. The US had opened the scoring early in the game, but Turkey responded with two goals in the first half, marking their first goals of the tournament despite numerous previous attempts.
The US took an early lead with a goal from Auston Trusty less than three minutes into the game. The play originated from a corner kick delivered by Sebastian Berhalter, which Trusty converted for his first international goal. However, Turkey quickly equalized in the 10th minute through Arda Güler, who found the net past American goalkeeper Matt Turner.
Later in the first half, Orkun Kökçü scored Turkey’s second goal, putting the US behind for the first time in the tournament. The American defense, which had kept a clean sheet in their previous match against Australia, allowed both of Turkey’s first-half goals on their first two shots of the game.
Pochettino’s lineup changes and Pulisic’s return
For this match, coach Mauricio Pochettino made extensive changes to the US lineup, with nine players in the starting eleven who had not started against Australia. This decision meant that 21 players had started in the first round of the tournament, and with the introduction of Alejandro Zendejas in the 76th minute, a total of 23 US players had appeared in the competition, setting a new record.
The US found an equalizer in the 49th minute of the second half when Weston McKennie’s blocked shot rebounded to Sebastian Berhalter, who scored from the edge of the box. The second half also saw the return of Christian Pulisic, who entered the game in the 58th minute to significant cheers. Pulisic, who had been managing a calf injury and missed the previous game against Paraguay, immediately contributed to creating offensive opportunities for the US.
Pochettino’s tactical approach involved rotating players to manage yellow card accumulation, as several key players, including Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, and Antonee Robinson, had already received bookings. The coach stated that risking further yellow cards, which could lead to suspensions for the Round of 32, was unnecessary.
Despite the US’s efforts and the introduction of fresh players, Turkey secured the win in stoppage time. Kaan Ayhan scored the decisive goal after a scramble in front of the net, with the referee blowing for full-time shortly after the goal. This marked the end of the US’s unbeaten run in the tournament.
Looking ahead to the knockout stage
The defeat does not alter the US’s progression to the knockout stages. The team is set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina, the third-place team from Group B, in their first elimination game. This upcoming match will take place in Santa Clara at Levi’s Stadium.
The expanded World Cup format and the US’s status as a host nation, combined with their strong performances in the initial two games, have led to discussions about their potential path through the knockout rounds. The US has historically won one knockout round game in the tournament’s history, with that victory occurring 24 years ago.
The upcoming match against Bosnia and Herzegovina will be a crucial test for the US as they aim to advance further in the competition.
Source: cnn.com
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