Just when it seemed the United States had salvaged a hard-fought draw, Turkey delivered one final twist. With virtually the last kick of the game, Kaan Ayhan bundled home a dramatic winner to hand Turkey a thrilling 3-2 victory in front of a packed SoFi Stadium on Thursday night.
While the result gave Turkey its first and only win of the tournament, it did little to change the bigger picture. The United States had already secured top spot in Group D after impressive wins over Paraguay and Australia, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side will now prepare for a Round of 32 showdown against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday.
Pochettino took the opportunity to rotate heavily, making nine changes to his starting lineup in a match with little riding on the standings. Even so, the Americans made a dream start.
Defender Auston Trusty electrified the home crowd by heading home from Sebastian Berhalter’s perfectly delivered corner in just the third minute. The early breakthrough sent SoFi Stadium into celebration and continued the Americans’ impressive attacking form throughout the tournament.
Turkey, however, refused to fade quietly.
The visitors found an equalizer in the 10th minute through Real Madrid youngster Arda Güler, who finished off an intelligent passing move with Baris Alper Yılmaz. The talented midfielder continued to dictate the tempo, creating another opening before Orkun Kökçü fired Turkey into a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute. Remarkably, Turkey converted both of its shots on target during the opening half.
The United States responded immediately after the restart.
Only four minutes into the second half, Sebastian Berhalter pounced on a loose ball nearly 20 yards from goal and unleashed a thunderous strike into the net, restoring parity at 2-2 and reigniting the home supporters.
One of the night’s biggest moments arrived in the 58th minute when Christian Pulisic made his long-awaited return after recovering from the calf injury that forced him off at halftime in the tournament opener against Paraguay.
The AC Milan midfielder received a standing ovation as he stepped onto the pitch and immediately made his presence felt. Within minutes, he carved open Turkey’s defense with a surging run down the left before nearly finding the net himself. His powerful effort in the 63rd minute was brilliantly tipped onto the post by goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, and Brenden Aaronson was unable to capitalize on the rebound from point-blank range.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, the match appeared destined to end level.
Instead, Turkey produced one final attacking move in the eighth minute of added time. Can Uzun found space near the back post and squared the ball across the goalmouth, where Kaan Ayhan slid in to score with the final touch of the contest, sealing an unforgettable 3-2 victory.
Although the defeat ended the Americans’ unbeaten group-stage campaign, there were still positives to take away. Trusty’s opener marked the United States’ seventh goal of the tournament, matching the nation’s highest scoring tally in a World Cup group stage before the knockout rounds even began.
The strike also contributed to tournament history. It became the 173rd goal scored at this World Cup, surpassing the total recorded at the previous tournament in Qatar despite being achieved in four fewer matches.
For Turkey, the dramatic finish offered a memorable farewell after an otherwise disappointing campaign in which strong performances had failed to translate into results.
For the United States, attention quickly shifts to the knockout stage. With Group D safely secured and key players like Pulisic returning to full fitness, Pochettino’s squad will hope Thursday’s defeat serves as little more than a speed bump on the road toward a deeper World Cup run.