Late Goal Decides Group Finale
The U.S. Men’s National Team experienced a 3-2 loss to Türkiye on Thursday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The match, which served as the Group D finale, saw Türkiye secure a victory with a goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time. Substitute Kaan Ayhan scored the decisive goal on the final touch of the game, concluding what had been a mostly celebratory night for the Americans.
Despite the loss, the USMNT had already secured first place in its group after winning its initial two World Cup matches. This achievement marked the first time the U.S. had secured passage to the knockout stage after only two games since returning to the World Cup in 1990 following a 40-year absence. The team’s performance in the group stage has been described as its best in the modern era.
The Americans will now prepare for their Round of 32 knockout match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. This upcoming game is scheduled for Wednesday in Santa Clara, California. Bosnia and Herzegovina finished third in Group B with a 1-1-1 record.
Squad Rotation and Key Returns
For the match against Türkiye, USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino opted to rest several key players. Many first-choice players, including Christian Pulisic, were not in the starting lineup. This decision was partly due to four starters, including Tyler Adams, having received a yellow card in the first two matches. A second yellow card would have led to a suspension from the Round of 32, though group-stage yellow cards are erased after the third match.
Other players protected from potential suspension included left back Antonee Robinson, center back Chris Richards, and striker Folarin Balogun. Weston McKennie and striker Ricardo Pepi were the only starting players from the previous 2-0 win over Australia in Seattle who remained in the lineup. New starters for the Türkiye match included goalkeeper Matt Turner; defenders Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson, and Joe Scally; midfielders Sebastian Berhalter and Gio Reyna; and wingers Brenden Aaronson and Tim Weah.
Pulisic, who had sustained a calf injury in the opening match and missed the second game, entered the field in the 58th minute to a strong ovation. He created several scoring opportunities, threatening to score the go-ahead goal multiple times. Goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır made notable saves against Pulisic’s efforts, including touching a deflection off the right post.
Match Dynamics and Injuries
The USMNT scored early in the match, with Auston Trusty finding the net in the third minute. This goal, assisted by Sebastian Berhalter, was Trusty’s first international goal and the second fastest after Clint Dempsey’s goal against Ghana in 2014. However, Türkiye quickly responded, with Barış Alper-Yilmaz scoring in the eighth minute after a play involving Arda Güler. Türkiye then took the lead with a goal from Orkun Kökçü, following a well-orchestrated attack.
In the second half, Sebastian Berhalter scored a powerful equalizer, leveling the match. This goal came from a one-timer after a long throw-in from McKenzie. Despite the comeback, the U.S. could not maintain the draw. The late goal by Ayhan secured Türkiye’s only win of the World Cup, a team that had been considered a pre-tournament threat to win the group but had fallen from contention after losses to Australia and Paraguay.
Defensive midfielder Cristian Roldan was ruled out of the match due to a strained quadriceps and had not trained throughout the week. In his absence, Weston McKennie was moved into a deeper midfield role. During the match, Auston Trusty sustained a scare in the 90th minute when he injured his left ankle. Despite the team having exhausted all its substitutions, Trusty limped back onto the field after receiving medical attention to finish the game.
The U.S. Men’s National Team has only won a single knockout-stage match in all its World Cup appearances, a 2-0 victory over Mexico in 2002.
Source: sports.yahoo.com