Turkey 3-2 USA: Guler 10, Orkun Kokcu 31, Ayhan 90+7; Trusty 3, Berhalter 49
It was too little too late for Turkey here as they delivered an impressive closing performance at this World Cup to beat USA 3-2 in Los Angeles.
Kaan Ayhan’s stoppage-time winner sealed victory in a game that swung like a pendulum but everybody of the Turkey persuasion will wonder why the team waited until they were out of the tournament to kick off.
After USA’s early opener, Vincenzo Montella’s side refused to go quietly into the night and responded within seven minutes. Arda Guler let Oguz Aydin’s forward pass run past him and then twisted his body to fool USA’s Weston McKennie and open up a path to goal. Baris Yilmaz ran past him and collected, then played a nice cutback to Guler, who had continued his run. The midfielder controlled before firing beyond Matt Turner and it was game on.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side will not mind defeat here, even if takes some of the shine off their impressive tournament so far, but USA were already assured of top spot heading into this game, after victories over Paraguay and Australia. Pochettino had the leisure to rotate heavily, making nine changes to his starting lineup, which should in theory keep his first XI rested and the fringe players sated ahead of a knockout meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The co-hosts had gone ahead first, barely three minutes into the game when Sebastian Berhalter’s inviting corner found Auston Trusty unmarked at the far post. The defender had time and space to control before drilling the ball into the net.
The fury of the strike was only matched by the wild celebrations that followed. USA are thoroughly enjoying this competition. The fans have taken greatly to the team, who have now also scored inside the opening minutes of all three group matches, a remarkable achievement.
But after Turkey equalised they then completed a turnaround just after the half-hour mark. This time USA were sawn to pieces. Kenan Yildiz found Guler at the edge of the box, and the latter threaded and excellent ball through the inside left that beat four defenders to reach Eren Elmali, who ran onto the pass and then made a cutback to Orkun Kokcu. The finish was inevitable.
Having dominated their opening two group matches, the Americans suddenly found themselves chasing the game for the first time in the tournament. But they rallied after half time and just four minutes in, Sebastian Berhalter seized on a loose ball on the edge of the area and fired his side level.
It was maddening now and Christian Pulisic could have put USA ahead after coming on, but goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir was attentive, denying him twice with excellent saves. The Americans continued to press and looked like they could snatch a late winner, but it was Turkey who did. Guler escaped down the flank in stoppage time and delivered an inviting cross. Can Uzun kept the move alive at the far post, squaring across goal for the unmarked Kaan Ayhan, who slid in to bundle home from close range and Turkey could bow out on a high.
