Türkiye clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory over the USA at SoFi Stadium thanks to a 98th-minute winner from substitute Kaan Ayhan. The late drama capped off a thrilling World Cup encounter in Los Angeles, leaving the home fans heartbroken. The victory provides a massive boost to the Crescent-Stars' tournament ambitions.
Both nations entered this highly anticipated group stage fixture looking to secure a vital foothold in the tournament. The United States aimed to exploit their home-continent advantage in front of a passionate crowd at SoFi Stadium. Meanwhile, a young and talented Turkish squad wanted to prove their credentials on the global stage under immense pressure.
The Americans enjoyed a dream start when defender Auston Trusty guided home a header from a Sebastian Berhalter cross just three minutes into the match. However, Türkiye responded almost immediately as Arda Güler curled a brilliant equalizer into the far corner in the 10th minute. Barış Alper Yılmaz then fired the Turkish team ahead in the 31st minute, slotting past goalkeeper Matt Turner after a clever pass from Orkun Kökcü.
The USA fought back immediately after the halftime interval when Berhalter smashed home a deserved equalizer in the 49th minute. The American coaching staff introduced star forward Christian Pulisic in the 58th minute to inject fresh energy into the attack. Despite several late chances for the hosts, Turkish substitute Ayhan prodded home the dramatic winning goal in the 98th minute of play.
Statistically, the USA controlled the tempo for large periods, enjoying 53% of the ball possession and unleashing 18 total shots compared to Türkiye's nine. Turkish goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır kept his side alive with five crucial saves, while the Americans registered seven shots on goal. The US team also won nine corner kicks but failed to make their set-piece dominance count in the final third.
This dramatic result puts Türkiye in a commanding position in the World Cup group standings as they look toward the knockout rounds. Meanwhile, the USA must quickly regroup and address their defensive lapses before their next crucial fixture. The Americans will certainly regret their missed opportunities in a game where they created numerous scoring chances.
