Türkiye beat US 3-2 with last-gasp winner
Türkiye ended their World Cup campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over a much-changed United States side thanks to Kaan Ayhan's stoppage-time winner in an entertaining Group D encounter in Los Angeles.
Already assured of top spot, the United States made nine changes with one eye on next week's Round of 32 meeting with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Türkiye, meanwhile, had already been eliminated after defeats to Paraguay and Australia and arrived still searching for their first goal of the tournament .
Despite the lack of jeopardy, a packed SoFi Stadium produced a vibrant atmosphere from the opening whistle.
The hosts made the perfect start for a third successive match .
Auston Trusty, one of Mauricio Pochettino's changes, was left unmarked at the far post from a corner and controlled the ball before firing home his first international goal after just three minutes — the second-fastest World Cup goal in US history.
Türkiye responded almost immediately.
Having failed to score with their previous 62 attempts at the tournament, Arda Guler finally broke the drought in the 10th minute after Baris Alper Yilmaz's cut-back found the Real Madrid midfielder inside the area.
The contest quickly developed into an open affair.
Mark McKenzie thought he had restored the United States' lead after reacting quickest to Ricardo Pepi's saved effort, only for the offside flag to cut celebrations short .
Instead, Türkiye struck again.
Guler released Eren Elmali down the left and the wing-back's low cross was turned home by Yilmaz to give Türkiye the lead just after the half-hour mark.
The United States responded within four minutes of the restart.
McKenzie's long throw was only partially cleared and Sebastian Berhalter drilled a first-time finish into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.
Pochettino then welcomed back Christian Pulisic for the first time since the opening match against Paraguay after the captain recovered from injury.
The forward immediately injected fresh energy into the attack, twice forcing blocks from close range before seeing another effort strike the post.
Türkiye continued to pose a threat, however, and Kenan Yildiz curled narrowly wide as both sides searched for a winner.
It eventually arrived deep into stoppage time.
Ayhan reacted quickest inside the penalty area to fire home from close range and hand Türkiye a first victory of the tournament.
The result was not enough to prevent elimination, but it ensured Türkiye bowed out with a performance to remember, while the United States now turn their attention to the knockout rounds after suffering their first defeat of the competition.
