Turkey Stun USA 3-2 With 98th-Minute Winner
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- Kaan Ayhan scored in the 98th minute to clinch a 3-2 victory for Turkey over co-hosts USA, converting a close-range cross-shot from fellow substitute Can Uzun at SoFi Stadium (attendance 70,492).
- Turkey exits the tournament despite the win, having lost their first two Group D matches to Australia and Paraguay while failing to convert any of 62 shots before finding their cutting edge against the USA.
- USA were already guaranteed as Group D winners and face Bosnia-Herzegovina (Group B third-place finishers) in the round of 32 at 1am on Thursday July 2, making this defeat a dead rubber.
- Auston Trusty opened the scoring in the 3rd minute from a corner, with Arda Guler (10th) and Baris Yilmaz (31st) replying before Sebastian Berhalter equalized in the 49th minute.
- Christian Pulisic returned from a calf injury as a 58th-minute substitute, hitting the post with a looping effort and registering three shots in a lively display described as a major positive for coach Mauricio Pochettino.
- Winston McKennie said the defeat would motivate the squad: 'Everyone wants to go into the next game having won the previous game, but I think it's going to motivate us even more.'
Why it matters: USA's first tournament defeat heading into the knockout round cost them momentum but gave Pulisic 30+ valuable minutes to build fitness ahead of Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 2, while Turkey — despite elimination — proved they could finish after back-to-back blanks from 62 shots.
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