U.S. Men’s National Team Stumbles in World Cup Action
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The U.S. men’s national team experienced a setback in their World Cup journey on Thursday night.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino made significant changes, rotating nine players in the starting lineup for the final group stage match, which may have contributed to the eventual outcome.
Khan Ayhan’s decisive goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time secured a 3-2 win for Turkey, leaving the U.S. team feeling a mix of relief and disappointment.
Pochettino expressed his frustration, stating, “Tonight it feels like we went home and Turkey stayed,” and seemed baffled by any insinuation that their momentum had stalled.
It’s worth noting that many challenges were already apparent before this match. The defensive depth is a concern, but having Christian Pulisic in the game can change everything. The U.S. is set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 next week.
Two bright spots from the night included Pulisic’s comeback after replacing Tim Weah for the final 32 minutes, which added energy to the team, especially after Weah struggled. The resilience shown when Sebastian Berhalter tied the game with a goal from 20 yards also deserves recognition.
Pulisic’s presence was palpable; he brought dynamism and creativity, which was a vivid reminder of his unique attributes within the squad.
“He always makes a big difference,” Brenden Aaronson remarked of Pulisic.
Pulisic, however, went unasked in the mixed zone following the game.
In opting to retain only Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi in the starting lineup for the upcoming match against Australia, Pochettino seemed to prioritize player health over this game’s outcome, acknowledging, “We wanted to win, but there were other things we needed to balance.”
Despite this, the U.S. pushed for a win by introducing regular starters, including Serginho Dest, Alex Freeman, and Alex Zendejas late in the game.
Ultimately, the victory eluded them. Following a water break, Turkey seemed more aggressive, although there were scoring opportunities on both sides.
Berhalter acknowledged, “I think we could have controlled the game a little better in certain situations.” He noted the team appeared disjointed at times, suggesting they had too many players back and not enough pressing forward.
Adding to the difficulty was an injury to Auston Trusty, who suffered a twisted ankle and hamstring spasm, forcing the U.S. to finish the match with only ten players after using all their substitutes.
Trusty re-entered the field briefly, but could only manage to limp along as Turkey capitalized on their chances, leading to Ayhan’s goal with Güler providing the crucial assist.
The U.S. defense, comprising Trusty, Miles Robinson, Mark McKenzie, and Joe Scully, struggled throughout the match. McKenzie was slow to react to a shot early on, while Scully failed to mark Elif Elmas effectively, who scored against them.
The U.S. had started strong with an early goal from Trusty, which came just two minutes in. However, the enthusiasm was short-lived, as their momentum seemed to fade.
Berhalter managed to find the back of the net again in the second half, tying the game with a well-placed shot from distance.
“No tournament is perfect,” Tyler Adams said from the bench. “You live and learn. Many will take lessons from this game.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. is still looking to end a nearly five-year winless streak against European teams, a run that dates back to a victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on December 18, 2021.
