Ayhan’s 98th-Minute Strike Arms Türkiye 3-2 Win Over USA

Rotated USA Pay Late Value In opposition to a Resurgent Türkiye

With qualification already secured, Mauricio Pochettino made 9 modifications to the aspect that beat Australia, and the gamble almost paid off. Auston Trusty gave the hosts an early lead within the third minute from a nook, just for Arda Güler, on an evening when he was named the match’s standout performer, to equalise swiftly and turn into Türkiye’s youngest ever World Cup goalscorer.

Baris Yilmaz put Vincenzo Montella’s aspect 2-1 forward simply earlier than the half-hour, however Sebastian Berhalter’s highly effective strike from the sting of the field 4 minutes into the second half restored parity. Christian Pulisic, getting back from a calf damage, got here off the bench within the 58th minute and created a number of alternatives, but the People couldn’t discover a winner.

As a substitute, it was Türkiye who broke the impasse within the eighth minute of stoppage time. Kaan Ayhan stabbed residence from shut vary after the USA defence did not clear, finishing a morale-boosting win for a aspect that had been eradicated after shedding their first two group matches with out scoring.

Güler’s Fast Response and Ayhan’s Late Clincher

Trusty’s third-minute opener from a nook set the tone, however Güler’s equaliser simply seven minutes later, after combining with Yilmaz to slice by means of the US backline, modified the match’s character totally.

Yilmaz then put Türkiye forward on the half-hour, earlier than Berhalter’s ferocious end levelled proceedings. The decisive second arrived deep in stoppage time when Ayhan pounced on a defensive lapse to make it 3-2 and safe all three factors.

Güler Lights Up Los Angeles in Historical past-Making Cameo

Arda Güler was the match’s standout participant and its defining determine within the opening exchanges. The Actual Madrid teenager equalised within the tenth minute, turning into Türkiye’s youngest World Cup goalscorer within the course of, and his mixture play with Yilmaz repeatedly uncovered a reshuffled US line of defense.

On a event evening when Türkiye had little left to play for when it comes to standings, Güler offered the person high quality that justified the pre-tournament expectation round him.

USA’s Focus Shifts Shortly to Bosnia-Herzegovina

Sebastian Berhalter picked up a yellow card within the nineteenth minute, an accumulation threat Pochettino might want to monitor heading into the knockout section.

Extra broadly, the defeat uncovered vulnerabilities in USA’s second-choice defensive unit, gaps {that a} sharper Spherical of 32 opponent might exploit. USA midfielder Weston McKennie struck a measured tone after the match, saying “Türkiye had been very scientific and completed their possibilities” earlier than including that the squad’s full depth provides him confidence going ahead.

Regardless of the loss, USA’s document of six factors from three group matches was described as their greatest ever group-stage end. Pochettino’s aspect now face Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, a aspect that certified from Group A with 4 factors. The co-hosts will count on to have their first-choice lineup out there, with Pulisic’s calf health the principal concern to handle.