World Cup: US lose 3-2 to Turkey after last-gasp strike

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A heavily changed United States lost 3-2 to Turkey on Thursday in an action-packed dead-rubber clash that coach Mauricio Pochettino vowed would not derail the World Cup co-hosts’ considerable momentum.

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Already crowned Group D winners, the US had arrived in Los Angeles seeking to extend a perfect start with a third win, but with more than an eye on next Wednesday’s last-32 meeting against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

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For Turkey, already eliminated and without even a goal after disastrous losses to Paraguay and Australia, the only objective was to restore some pride.

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Having gone ahead early and then clawed back an equalizer after two Turkey goals, the US fell to a Kaan Ayhan winner deep in stoppage time.

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“We had other priorities. We did want to win, we wanted the victory, but there were other things that we need to balance out, and I made the very best decisions,” said Pochettino, who made nine changes to his lineup ahead of the Bosnia clash.

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“What does it mean to win three (group) matches if you’re going to be losing the next one, and you’re not going to be winning the World Cup?” he asked a notably tense and spiky press conference after the game.

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For the third game running the US had got off to a dream start. Backup center-half Auston Trusty scored unmarked at the far post from a corner.

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It was the Celtic defender’s first international goal, and — at just under three minutes — the second-fastest by the US at a World Cup.

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But Turkey did not surrender. Having not scored in 62 efforts across their first two games, it was 63rd time lucky for the Turks, and their star man Arda Guler.

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The Real Madrid forward duped Mark McKenzie with a clever dummy, allowing the ball to run down the right flank to Baris Alper Yilmaz.

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Yilmaz crossed it back into Guler, who smashed it past Matt Turner to equalize in the 10th minute.

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With Brad Pitt and Edward Norton among the Hollywood crowd, the game threatened to become a fight club, as Turkey’s bench rushed the field to protest a foul by the combative Sebastian Berhalter, who earned a yellow.

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The Americans thought they had restored the lead, McKenzie the second US center-back to put the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled offside.

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In the 31st minute the US found themselves behind for the first time this World Cup.

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Guler spotted Eren Elmali’s overlapping run, feeding it to the wing-back who cut the ball back from the left byline to Yilmaz, who steered it beyond the keeper.

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• ‘Captain America’ returns –

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The half-time break proved the perfect tonic for the US. In the 49th minute they were back level from a long throw by McKenzie.

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The ball was cleared by Turkey only as far as Berhalter, who did well to smash his shot low into the bottom corner.

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The crowd erupted again just before the hour mark as Pochettino sent on Christian Pulisic, undoubtedly US soccer’s biggest star.

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Nicknamed “Captain America”, Pulisic earned his own round of “USA” chants, having not appeared since aggravating an injury against Paraguay two weeks ago.

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Pulisic immediately looked lively, twice having efforts blocked from close range after darting runs from the left. He knew less about a ball that looped off his shin onto the post.

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Turkey began to knock on the door again. Deep into stoppage time, Ayhan spoiled the US party, slamming the ball home from close range.

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Turkey were jubilant, while the American players clustered in a circle after the final whistle, determined to not let the gut punch spoil a campaign that had been off to a flying start.

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“If we (had won) the game, is it going to change my mood, my momentum? No. Winning this game, or not winning this game, it’s not going to change,” said Pochettino.

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AFP

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