Türkiye Beats U.S.

Group Winners Fall to the Last-Place Team in Final Group Stage Match

Kaan Ayhan's stoppage-time strike handed Türkiye a 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium, spoiling what had been a compelling comeback by Mauricio Pochettino's side in a group stage finale that carried little consequence for the Americans.

The U.S. had already clinched Group D with wins over Paraguay and Australia, and Pochettino reflected that by rotating nine starters for the contest. The move paid dividends in the opening minutes when Auston Trusty volleyed home in the third minute to send the sellout Los Angeles crowd into a frenzy—the Americans' seventh goal of the tournament, tying their all-time World Cup scoring record.

Türkiye answered quickly, though. Arda Güler and Orkun Kökçü struck in the first half to flip the scoreboard, with Güler, the 21-year-old Real Madrid standout, involved in both goals. Sebastian Berhalter restored parity just after the break with a thunderous effort from distance, setting up a frantic final half hour.

The most anticipated moment of the night came in the 58th minute, when Christian Pulisic checked in for his first action since leaving the Paraguay opener with a calf injury. The AC Milan midfielder was electric immediately, creating chances and nearly scoring before a 63rd-minute effort rattled the post. Brenden Aaronson couldn't convert the rebound.

In the eighth minute of stoppage time, Can Uzun found space at the back post and laid the ball across for Ayhan to slide home the winner—a gut-punch finish that snapped the Americans' perfect record heading into their Round of 32 date with Bosnia and Herzegovina next Wednesday.