The United States suffered a dramatic late defeat in their final World Cup group game, beaten 3-2 by Turkey on a stoppage-time goal — though the co-hosts had already done enough in earlier matches to reach the knockout rounds.
A fast start undone
The Americans could hardly have begun better at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, going ahead inside the opening minutes through Auston Trusty from a corner, the match record shows. But Turkey hit back quickly: the young Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler equalized around the 10th minute, and Turkey added a second before half-time to lead 2-1.
The US responded after the break, with Sebastian Berhalter leveling early in the second half to make it 2-2. As the match moved deep into added time, it looked set to end level — until Kaan Ayhan turned the ball home in the closing seconds of stoppage time to win it for Turkey, 3-2, NBC News reported.
What it means
For all the late drama, the defeat did not cost the United States their place in the next round. Two earlier wins left them top of Group D, according to the group table, with Australia advancing in second and Paraguay third, in contention for one of the best-third-place spots in the expanded 48-team tournament. Turkey, despite the win, finished bottom and were eliminated.
For the hosts, the result is more a warning than a wound: they conceded a late goal and could not hold a second-half lead, questions their coaching staff will want answered before the knockout rounds, where such lapses are punished. For Turkey, it was a consolation on a disappointing campaign — and a moment in the spotlight for Güler, one of Europe's brightest young talents, and for Ayhan, whose late strike earned a memorable, if dead-rubber, victory over a host nation.
