Turkey Edge Out USA for 3 Points
- Kobain Reid
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Credit Opta Analyst
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
LOS ANGELES, CA - The United States took on Turkiye for the final game of Group D. The US had already clinched 1st in the group and their spot in the round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino made 9 changes to the starting lineup from last game in preparation for the knockout stages. The only 2 starters who stayed were Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie; McKennie would captain the squad for only the fourth time in his career. Many starters held yellow cards, so that was the main reason for the change.
The first half was rather eventful, as Auston Trusty for the US scored early after a corner in the second minute sent in by Sebastian Berhalter found Trusty at the far post. It wasn’t a great angle, but Trusty was still able to find the back of the net, leading to an early goal in all three US group matches.
The celebration was short lived, however, as Turkiye with some beautiful passing found themselves in the middle of the box for Andres Guller to score an an easy equalizer.
The rest of the half went back and forth with Turkiye looking like the more impressive side. In the 31st minute, Türkiye brought the ball up the left side up to the goal line and crossed into the middle for an easy tap-in by Alper Yilmaz, going into halftime up 2-1 on the US.
In the 2nd half, USA switched the tempo of the game, scoring just four minutes in. Mckenzie threw a long throw that found its way into the box, and after being kicked around, it fell to Sebastian Berhalter, who equalized for the US with a fantastic shot just outside the box.
The US dominated the second half, putting forth the most chances but struggling to finish on key opportunities. Turkiye had one last ditch effort in the 98th minute out of seven added. After a cross to the near post, the ball deflected in for a goal line tap-in by Kaan Ayhan, giving Turkiye take the lead, 3-2. Turkiye was eliminated no matter what, but go home with a win over the group winners.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PREMIER MEDIA GROUP / NATIONAL SOCCER NETWORK /
NATIONAL SOCCER NETWORK ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561215500230
— All Rights Reserved, Premier Media Group / National Soccer Network
