The US Men’s National Team suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Türkiye at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday night, conceding a last-gasp winner in the 98th minute, but the result carried no consequence for the Americans, who had already secured first place in Group D and a place in the Round of 32 knockout stage.
The match was always going to be a footnote. The US had already wrapped up the group with wins over Paraguay, 4-1 on June 12, and Australia, 2-0 on June 19, finishing with six points, the best group-stage performance in USMNT history. Coach Mauricio Pochettino used Thursday’s game to rotate heavily, handing rare starts to players who had largely featured from the bench in the previous two matches.
The game itself was eventful. Defender Auston Trusty opened the scoring after just three minutes, nodding home from a Sebastian Berhalter corner, but Türkiye equalized through Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler in the 10th minute. Orkun Kökcü put Turkey ahead on the half-hour mark before Berhalter levelled again four minutes into the second half with a sharp finish from outside the box, becoming the first USMNT player in the modern era to score and assist in the same World Cup game. Kaan Ayhan then stabbed home a cross in the 98th minute to hand an already eliminated Turkey side its only points of the tournament.
Star attacker Christian Pulisic, returning from a calf injury that had kept him out since the group opener, came off the bench in the 58th minute but was unable to find a decisive contribution.
The US will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California on July 1, where the stakes become real.
