Eliminated Turkey scored a 98th-minute winner to clinch a 3-2 victory over World Cup co-hosts USA, who will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32.
Turkey’s tournament exit was already confirmed after back-to-back losses to Australia and Paraguay in which they failed to score from 62 shots but they restored some pride thanks to substitute Kaan Ayhan’s close-range winner in the final seconds in Los Angeles.
USA, already assured of a round of 32 spot as group winners, went in front in the third minute when Auston Trusty scored from a corner but Turkey fought back with goals from Arda Guler and Baris Yilmaz as Vincenzo Montella’s side belatedly found some cutting edge.
Sebastian Berhalter hauled USA level with a low finish from the edge of the box straight after half-time and there was also a second-half substitute appearance from talisman Christian Pulisic, who struck the post on his return from a calf injury.
It was Turkey, though, who would have the final say as Ayhan forced a cross-shot from fellow substitute Can Uzun over the line to condemn Mauricio Pochettino’s side to a first defeat of the tournament before they head into the knockout stage to face Group B third-place finishers Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The key moments from Los Angeles…
- 3: GOAL! Trusty fires USA ahead from a corner
- 10: GOAL! Guler notches Turkey equaliser in clinical style
- 30: OFFSIDE! Mark McKenzie sees a goal ruled out for USA
- 31: GOAL! Yilmaz turns in from close range to put Turkey ahead
- 49: GOAL! Berhalter fires home low finish to equalise
- 58: Pulisic is welcomed on as he makes his return from injury
- 64: POST! Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir pushes a Pulisic effort onto the post
- 90+8: GOAL! Ayhan wins it for Turkey at the death
Analysis: Pulisic’s return boosts USA
Turkey’s late winner dampened the mood for the USA following their back-to-back victories over Paraguay and Australia but Pulisic’s return from the calf injury suffered in the first half of their opening fixture was a major positive for Pochettino.
The AC Milan forward, USA’s best player and scorer of 33 goals in 87 international games, looked sharp after replacing Timothy Weah in the 58th-minute, the chunky cameo allowing him to build his fitness for the games that matter in the knockout stage.
Christian Pulisic returned from a calf injury as a substitute
The looping effort pushed onto the post by Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir was one of three shots in a lively display. He was also denied by Cakir after racing in on goal on the left-hand side of the box having taken a Berhalter pass brilliantly on his chest.
USA’s winning start to the tournament is over but Pulisic’s return gives them cause for optimism for the rest of the tournament, with Bosnia-Herzegovina next up at 1am on Thursday July 2.
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