LOS ANGELES — Kaan Ayhan scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time to give Turkey a 3-2 victory over the United States, a result that restored some pride but could not undo the damage of a catastrophic group-stage campaign.
Turkey had already been eliminated after back-to-back defeats to Australia and Paraguay in which they failed to score from 62 shots. This win — dramatic, emotional, and ultimately meaningless — was a reminder of what might have been.
The United States, already assured of top spot in Group D, rested nine starters and used the match to give Christian Pulisic a 30-minute cameo on his return from a calf injury. The AC Milan forward struck the post and looked sharp — a major positive for Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the Round of 32 clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Match
The game exploded into life from the opening whistle. Auston Trusty fired the USA ahead in the third minute from a corner, continuing the Americans’ habit of scoring early — they had now found the net inside the first 12 minutes of all three group matches.
But Turkey, for the first time in this tournament, responded. Arda Güler, the 21-year-old Real Madrid playmaker, equalised in the 10th minute with a clinical finish from Baris Yilmaz’s pass. It was Turkey’s 63rd shot of the World Cup — and their first goal.
Güler’s strike also made him Turkey’s youngest-ever World Cup goalscorer, surpassing Emre Belözoğlu.
Turkey took the lead in the 31st minute. Güler was again involved, orchestrating a flowing move that ended with Orkun Kökçü sliding the ball home from close range. For the first time at this tournament, Turkey were ahead.
The USA equalised four minutes into the second half. Sebastian Berhalter, son of former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter, fired a low shot from the edge of the box past Uğurcan Çakır. It was the USA’s ninth goal of the tournament — a new national record for a single World Cup, surpassing the seven scored in 1930 and 2002.
Pulisic entered in the 58th minute to a roar from the Los Angeles crowd. Within six minutes, he had forced Çakır into a diving save that pushed his curling effort onto the post. He was denied again minutes later after a brilliant chest control and run into the box.
The match seemed destined for a draw — until the 98th minute. A cross from the right caused chaos in the American penalty area, and Ayhan, on as a substitute, forced the ball over the line from close range. Turkey had their win. But they were still going home.
Group D Final Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 9 |
| 2 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 4 | Turkey | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
The 62-Shot Mystery
Turkey’s World Cup will be remembered for one of the most baffling statistical anomalies in tournament history. In their first two matches, they took 62 shots — 12 on target — and scored zero goals. That is the most shots without a goal across any two-match span in World Cup history.
Against Paraguay: 63% possession, 28 shots, 5 on target, 0 goals.
Against Australia: 57% possession, 34 shots, 7 on target, 0 goals.
This was not bad luck. It was a systemic failure of finishing, composure, and tactical preparation. Vincenzo Montella’s side arrived with a €470 million squad featuring Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Güler, and Kenan Yıldız. They leave as one of the tournament’s great disappointments.
The 3-2 win over a heavily rotated USA side showed what Turkey were capable of when the pressure was off. But by then, it was far too late.
What’s Next
The USA face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on July 2 in San Francisco. Pulisic’s return gives them their most important weapon back. The Americans scored nine goals in the group stage — a record — and head into the knockouts with genuine belief.
Australia face the Group G runner-up. Paraguay await the third-place verdict. Turkey go home, their tournament defined by 62 shots, zero goals, and one victory that will haunt them with thoughts of what might have been.
Sources: Sky Sports, NPR, FIFA, Xinhua
