FIFA WC: Turkiye edgde co-hosts USA in thriller to bow out in style
Los Angeles, June 26
Already-eliminated Turkiye ended a disappointing FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on a high by edging out Group D winners and co-hosts USA 3-2 here at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday.
With top spot already assured, Mauricio Pochettino shuffled his US pack, making no fewer than nine changes to the team that sealed qualification by beating Australia. For Turkiye, it's a positive end to a disappointing campaign as they at least go home with a victory in their bag.
Auston Trusty opened the scoring early with his first goal. After Turkiye scored twice later in the first half, Sebastian Berhalter responded with a banger just minutes into the second half. The Crescent-Stars found the winner on the last touch of the game deep into second-half stoppage time.
Within three minutes, Trusty brought down a deep corner from Sebastian Berhalter and crashed home a left-foot shot to give USA an ealry lead in 2 minutes and 13 seconds, second-fastest goal in USMNT World Cup history after Clint Dempsey who scored after 30 seconds against Ghana in 2014.
Turkiye, already bruised and demoralised by their early elimination, came roaring back, levelling just seven minutes later when Arda Guler exchanged passes with Baris Yilmaz to break through the US defence and become his nation's youngest World Cup goalscorer with a calm finish.
The star-studded Los Angeles crowd was silenced just after the half-hour mark when Eren Elmali squared for Baris Yilmaz to put Turkiye into the lead. Three minutes into the second half, Sebastian Berhalter restored parity with a powerful shot from the top of the box, sneaking one inside the near post for his first World Cup goal.
Berhalter becomes the first USA player on record (since 1966) to record both a goal and an assist in a single World Cup match. The goal was also the USMNT's eighth of this year's tournament, now a record for the most goals scored by the U.S. in a single World Cup, surpassing the record of seven set in 1930 and equalled in 2002.
Despite some lively attacking play from the returning Christian Pulisic, it was Turkiye who snatched all three points when Kaan Ayhan scrambled home a late, late winner in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a football fan from India, this was a thrilling game! Turkiye's never-say-die attitude is what we need in our sports culture. Berhalter's goal and assist were class, but that late winner from Ayhan was pure drama. Our youth should watch this match to learn resilience. Also, sad to see Turkiye go home, they have a bright future with Guler and Yilmaz ⚽
Great match for the neutral! USA's rotation made sense since they already won the group, but their defense looked shaky. Turkiye deserved this win after a tough campaign. I hope our Indian football authorities learn from how Turkiye developed players like Guler. We need that kind of investment at the grassroots level in India.
Pochettino's 9 changes were too many, it disrupted the rhythm. Trusty's early goal made it look easy, but Turkey's comeback showed their spirit. Berhalter's strike was a rocket though! Turkiye leaving with a win is bittersweet. As an Indian, I dream of the day we'll have a team fighting in the World Cup. This tournament shows the level we need to reach 💪
Super entertaining game! Turkiye's young players really shone—Guler and Yilmaz are future stars. USA's record of 8 goals in a tournament is solid, but their B-team exposed some weaknesses. Respect to Turkiye for going out with a bang. In India, we often see teams give up when eliminated, but this match teaches us to play for pride till the last whistle 👏
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