TURKEY SNATCHES LAST-GASP THREE POINTS AGAINST CO-HOSTS USA
In a dramatic conclusion to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, Turkey emerged victorious against the co-hosts USA, winning 3-2 in a match that saw the adrenaline rush to its peak right until the final whistle. Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to rotate his squad resulted in his team suffering its first loss of the tournament, despite both teams already knowing their paths in the tournament before the match kicked off.
The atmosphere was electric at SoFi Stadium, with a thrilling start to the match where both teams demonstrated their intent. Within the first three minutes, Celtic’s Austin Trusty found the net with a well-placed shot, scoring his first international goal and giving the USA an early lead. But Turkey quickly retaliated; Real Madrid’s emerging talent, Arda Güler, responded almost immediately, scoring with a close-range finish to level the match.
The pace of the game continued to quicken, with USA’s Weston McKennie having a goal disallowed due to offside just half an hour in. Yet, Turkey soon capitalized on their momentum when Orkun Kökçü scored in the 31st minute, putting Turkey ahead after an impressive series of passes.
However, the resilience of the co-hosts shone through as they fought back immediately following halftime. Four minutes into the second half, Sebastian Berhalter reacted quickly to a lackluster Turkish clearance, netting his first goal for the USA from the edge of the area, bringing the score to 2-2.
As the match wore on, USA increasingly piled on the pressure, with their attacking efforts nearly yielding a third goal. Christian Pulisic came close with a shot that hit the post, showcasing the USA’s attacking prowess. Yet, for all their efforts, the co-hosts could not secure the lead before the match took an unexpected turn.
In the dying moments of extra time, Turkey stunned their opponents, scoring the winning goal in the 98th minute. Kaan Ayhan scrambled the ball over the line from close range, sealing a thrilling victory as the referee blew the final whistle shortly after.
This result capped off Turkey’s World Cup journey on a positive note, allowing them to leave the tournament with some fond memories after earlier defeats against Australia and Paraguay. Meanwhile, despite the disappointment of their first loss, the USA could take solace in breaking records, having scored eight goals over the course of the tournament, the most ever for a US national team at the World Cup.
As the World Cup continues, USA looks forward to a Round of 32 clash against Bosnia & Herzegovina on July 2nd, while Turkey can reflect on their performance with a sense of accomplishment despite earlier setbacks.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Sebastian Berhalter (USA)
