USMNT Unbeaten Run Ends as Turkiye Snatch Late Win; Pulisic Returns, Berhalter & Trusty Impress

The U.S. Men's National Team's performance in Inglewood, California, wasn't without its flaws, yet they were on the verge of an unbeaten streak. For a moment, the American squad seemed destined to conclude a formidable World Cup group stage campaign without a single loss, and even secure three victories in this phase for the first time in their history. However, with time virtually expired and a crucial player struggling with injury, Turkiye delivered a decisive blow, snatching a 3-2 victory in the 96th minute.

Despite the late defeat, the outcome held little consequence; the USMNT still topped their group, and Turkiye's tournament journey concluded. Nevertheless, Turkiye departed with a sense of satisfaction, while the Americans advanced to the knockout rounds with their morale slightly bruised, having allowed a draw to slip away with what was practically the final kick of the game.

After failing to score in their first 62 attempts in the tournament, Turkiye capitalized on their opportunities against a heavily rotated USMNT lineup. Despite the changes, the U.S. team demonstrated resilience, scoring first and later showing character to recover from a deficit, almost securing a positive result. In the initial stages, with nine new starters, it appeared the USMNT might once again dominate the proceedings. Auston Trusty found the net just three minutes in, rushing to the bench to celebrate another early U.S. goal. Unlike the previous two, which were credited as own goals, this one was a perfectly executed play between Trusty and Sebastian Berhalter, who provided the assist from a corner kick.

Turkiye, however, responded with two quick goals. Their star player, Arda Guler, exploited some defensive lapses from the USMNT after 10 minutes. Then, in the 31st minute, the U.S. defense faltered again against a surging Turkish attack, allowing Orkan Kokcu an easy finish.

The U.S. side reignited in the second half. Berhalter's precise strike in the 49th minute brought the score level, shortly before Christian Pulisic made his return from injury. Pulisic, coming off the bench, created several scoring chances, though none ultimately resulted in a goal. This inability to convert proved costly. With Trusty hobbling due to what appeared to be an ankle injury, Kaan Ayhan drifted in to score in the 96th minute, breaking American hearts. Despite the disappointment, manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed general satisfaction with the team's performance, given the circumstances. Ultimately, it wasn't quite enough to maintain their unbeaten record.