Cha-cha-changes. With their first place in the group stage already clinched Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes to the starting lineup, choosing to avoid any possibility of yellow card suspension or injury to preferred starters. Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie were the only starters from either of the first two matches who were also in the starting lineup named for the match against Turkey.
However, for the third straight match the USMNT found themselves with the early lead, this time scoring themselves three
minutes into the match when a Sebastian Berhalter corner kick found Auston Trusty on the back post to slot home as the US jumped out to the 1-0 lead.
Unfortunately, this time the the lead wouldn’t last long as Turkey would respond with their own goal in the tenth minute after some nice movement (and maybe a fortunate bounce?) led to Arda Guler facing Matt Turner 1 on 1 and slotting home.
The US would fall behind for the first time in this World Cup when Turkey found their second goal of the match in the 31st minute after left wingback Eren Elmali made a lung busting, well timed run to be wide open and slot a pass that would find Orkun Kokcu to score Turkey’s second of the night.
Turkey went to the half up 2-1 but shortly into the second the US would pull level when Sebastian Berhalter scored on a very nice shot from just outside the box after a long throw from Mark McKenzie into the box bounced around a bit before finding Berhalter’s foot just outside the eighteen.
In some of the best news of the night Christian Pulisic was subbed on in the 58th minute, confirming that he should be at full health for the knockout rounds. Pulisic also looked very dangerous in his minutes as well. The US would continue to push for the winner, bringing on Alex Zendejas for his first minutes of the tournament as well as Sergino Dest and Alex Freeman, presumed starters in the knockout rounds, in the 76th minute.
Unfortunately, it was Turkey who would find the match winner, on practically the last touch of the match, as Kaan Ayhan found the back of the net after the ball made it’s way across the face of the goal before being hammered home.
The US came into the game knowing they were going through in first place but stumbled in their last match before the knockouts. A disappointing result but perhaps with some silver linings, what are yours? At SSFC we don’t tell you who you think should be the MOTM, we want to hear from you, who is your top player? Hit the ratings below and let us know who you think were the outstanding performers in tonight’s match.
