USA vs Turkey: USMNT Stunned by Last-Minute Goal in World Cup Group D Finale

The United States men’s national team almost secured a positive end to their Group D campaign in Los Angeles, but a last-minute goal from Turkey spoiled the party. The match ended 3-2 in favor of Turkey, who had already been eliminated before kickoff.

Mauricio Pochettino would have taken pride in his squad's effort despite the loss. With many starters rested, Sebastian Berhalter shined, becoming the first modern U.S. player to both score and assist in a World Cup match. He set up Auston Trusty for an early goal and later scored himself early in the second half.

Match Overview

Turkey capitalized on defensive lapses from the U.S., scoring twice through Arda Guler and Orkun Kokcu to take a 2-1 lead shortly after the half-hour mark. Despite their struggles in this game, Turkey showed moments of quality but managed only eight shots, a steep drop from their 62 shots in earlier matches.

After missing the previous game due to injury, Christian Pulisic came on as a substitute for the last 30 minutes and injected energy, nearly swinging momentum back toward the USMNT. Unfortunately, a late ankle injury to Trusty forced the U.S. to finish with ten men during the critical final moments.

In stoppage time, a frantic scramble in the U.S. penalty area led to a loose ball that found Kaan Ayhan, who scored the winning goal for Turkey with the very last kick of the match.

Final Score and Details

Key Moments

• 3rd minute: Auston Trusty opens scoring for USA from a corner delivered by Berhalter.
• 10th minute: Arda Guler equalizes for Turkey after exploiting US defensive mistakes.
• 31st minute: Orkun Kokcu puts Turkey ahead with a smooth team goal.
• 48th minute: Sebastian Berhalter blasts a shot from outside the box to level the score.
• 90+8 minute: Kaan Ayhan scores the dramatic winner for Turkey.

Additional Notes

The USMNT played a heavily rotated lineup, with nine changes from their previous match. Weston McKennie captained the side, wearing the armband in this record-setting lineup where 21 different players have started across the tournament.

Despite the loss, the U.S. had already secured top spot in Group D prior to this game and will face Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32. Turkey, eliminated early, celebrated their upset win passionately, gaining some consolation before heading home.

Pulisic's introduction energized the Americans, but missed chances, including a glaring miss by Brenden Aaronson, prevented a comeback. Trusty’s injury late in the match further hampered the U.S. defense.

Fans at SoFi Stadium were lively throughout, even with the match having no bearing on advancement for either side. The team now turns attention to the knockout rounds, hoping to avoid injuries and build momentum.