The United States men’s national team experienced a 3-2 defeat against Turkey in their final World Cup Group D match in Inglewood, California. Despite the loss, the USMNT secured the top position in their group, a fate determined after their initial two games. This allowed head coach Mauricio Pochettino to make significant changes to the lineup for the match at SoFi Stadium.
The match saw a heavily rotated US squad, with only Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie retaining their starting places from the previous win against Australia. Pepi had started against the Socceroos due to an injury to Christian Pulisic. McKennie played for 86 minutes before being substituted by Malik Tillman. Key players at risk of yellow-card suspensions, including Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards, and Antonee Robinson, did not feature, as yellow cards are reset after the group stage.
Auston Trusty opened the scoring for the US, heading in from a corner kick. This marked his first international goal and was recorded as the second-fastest goal by the US in a World Cup, occurring just under three minutes into the game. However, Turkey quickly responded, with Arda Guler equalising in the 10th minute after a play involving Baris Alper Yilmaz. Turkey then took the lead in the 31st minute through Yilmaz, following a pass from Eren Elmali.
The US managed to draw level early in the second half when Sebastian Berhalter scored from a long throw by Mark McKenzie. Berhalter’s goal was described as a powerful shot into the bottom corner. His set-piece ability and progressive passing were highlighted as key contributions, and he also provided an assist for Trusty’s opening goal. Berhalter received a yellow card during the match.
Player performances and substitutions
Goalkeeper Matt Turner, making a surprise start, conceded three goals. Despite this, he made a couple of timely sweeper actions and joined a select group of US goalkeepers to start in multiple World Cups. Defender Joe Scally struggled at times, being pulled out of position for Turkey’s second goal and having difficulty with his crosses. Mark McKenzie was bypassed for Turkey’s first goal and had a potential goal ruled offside. Miles Robinson appeared unsettled early on but improved as the game progressed.
Tim Weah, playing on his weaker side, had issues with errant passes and ineffective dribbles. Brenden Aaronson, in his first World Cup start, showed industry but missed a chance at an open net. Ricardo Pepi was consistent in drawing Turkey’s center-backs but struggled to find touches in the box. Gio Reyna, despite moving to offer passing options, often opted to recirculate the ball rather than breaking lines, though he was second on his team in box entry passes, behind Berhalter.
A significant moment came when Christian Pulisic entered the match in the 58th minute, replacing Tim Weah. Pulisic, making his return after a calf injury sustained in the opening match against Paraguay, immediately injected energy into the US attack. He nearly scored from outside the box in the 77th minute and consistently pushed the ball towards the goal. His performance alleviated concerns about his fitness for the upcoming knockout rounds, though he was nutmegged by Guler in the build-up to Turkey’s winning goal.
Other substitutes included Alex Freeman, who replaced Scally in the 77th minute, and Sergiño Dest, who came on for Reyna at the same time. Alejandro Zendejas made his long-awaited World Cup debut, replacing Aaronson in the 76th minute. Malik Tillman entered for McKennie in the 86th minute, receiving applause from the crowd.
Pochettino’s post-match comments and outlook
Following the match, coach Pochettino expressed frustration with the line of questioning from reporters, emphasizing that the team had already secured first place in Group D. He highlighted that the outcome of the match against Turkey was inconsequential to their group standing. Pochettino pointed out that the team’s objective was not just to win, but also to give Pulisic valuable minutes, stating, “He finished well and he made an impact on the pitch.”
Turkey ultimately secured the win with a late goal from Kaan Ayhan in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Despite the loss, the US technically achieved its best-ever group-stage performance with six points, matching the 1930 team’s record, though a win was worth two points then compared to three now. Pochettino confirmed that the USMNT’s opponent in the Round of 32 will be Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the match scheduled to take place next Wednesday in Santa Clara, California.
Pochettino remained confident in his squad, stating, “We’re a much better team now than we were before. That will be put to the test next game.” He also congratulated his players, staff, and fans for finishing first in a challenging group, underscoring the learning experience inherent in participating in a World Cup.
The match against Turkey, although a dead rubber for the US, provided a stern test ahead of the knockout rounds. For Turkey, already eliminated from the tournament, the victory offered a measure of pride after previous losses to Paraguay and Australia. Arda Guler, who scored Turkey’s first goal, was noted for his man-of-the-match performance, dictating many of his side’s attacking plays.
The return of Christian Pulisic to action after his injury was a key positive for the US, demonstrating his readiness for the upcoming knockout stage. The USMNT will now prepare for their Round of 32 clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina next Wednesday.
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Source: theguardian.com
Sam Whitlock is a Sports News Writer at News-GB.org. He moved from local newspapers into digital sport. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Gloucestershire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Gloucester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight game. “Clarity beats cleverness in breaking sport news.”