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Türkiye ended its 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D campaign with a dramatic 3-2 win over the United States in Los Angeles, as Kaan Ayhan scored deep into stoppage time to seal the national team's first victory of the tournament.
The match kicked off at Los Angeles Stadium, with Algerian referee Mustapha Ghorbal in charge. Mokrane Gourari and Abbes Zerhouni are serving as assistant referees.
Türkiye came into the fixture without a point or a goal after defeats to Australia and Paraguay, leaving Vincenzo Montella's side playing only for a closing result in its final appearance at the tournament. The United States, meanwhile, had already qualified for the first knockout stage, known as the Round of 32, after winning its first two matches.
Kickoff — The Group D match between Türkiye and the United States is underway in Los Angeles.
3' GOAL — Türkiye 0-1 USA: Auston Trusty puts the United States ahead early in Los Angeles, scoring in the third minute as Türkiye fall behind in their final Group D match.
10' GOAL — Türkiye 1-1 USA: Arda Guler brings Türkiye level in Los Angeles, scoring the national team's first goal of the 2026 World Cup campaign after Auston Trusty had put the United States ahead early.
31' GOAL — Türkiye 2-1 USA: Orkun Kokcu puts Türkiye ahead in Los Angeles, completing the comeback after Arda Guler had scored the national team's first goal of the 2026 World Cup campaign.
HT — Türkiye 2-1 USA: Türkiye went into halftime ahead in Los Angeles after coming from behind against the United States. Auston Trusty gave the host nation an early lead in the third minute, but Arda Guler brought Türkiye level in the 10th minute with the national team's first goal of the 2026 World Cup campaign. Orkun Kokcu then scored in the 31st minute to give Türkiye a 2-1 lead at the break.
46' — The second half is underway in Los Angeles, with Türkiye restarting the match after going into halftime 2-1 ahead against the United States.
49' GOAL — Türkiye 2-2 USA: Berhalter brings the United States level early in the second half, wiping out Türkiye's halftime lead after Arda Guler and Orkun Kokcu had turned the match around before the break.
58' — Christian Pulisic comes on for the United States, replacing Weah as the hosts make a second-half change with the score level at 2-2 against Türkiye.
76' — The United States make another change, with Sergino Dest coming on for Giovanni Reyna as the match remains level at 2-2 against Türkiye.
77' — The United States make further substitutions in Los Angeles, with Alex Freeman replacing Joe Scally and Alejandro Zendejas coming on for Brenden Aaronson.
84' — Türkiye make a double substitution in Los Angeles, with Caglar Soyuncu replacing Zeki Celik and Can Uzun coming on for Kenan Yildiz as the match remains level at 2-2 against the United States.
86' — The United States make another late substitution, with Malik Tillman replacing Weston McKennie.
88' — Türkiye make another change in Los Angeles, with Kaan Ayhan replacing Orkun Kokcu as the match remains level at 2-2 against the United States.
90+2' — Türkiye make late substitutions in stoppage time, with Mert Muldur replacing Oguz Aydin and Irfan Can Kahveci coming on for Baris Alper Yilmaz.
90+8' GOAL — Türkiye 3-2 USA: Kaan Ayhan scores deep into stoppage time to put Türkiye back in front against the United States in Los Angeles.
FT — Türkiye 3-2 USA: Türkiye end their 2026 World Cup campaign with a dramatic win over the United States, as Kaan Ayhan's 90+8th-minute goal seals a 3-2 victory after the match had been level at 2-2 late in the second half.
Montella started Ugurcan Cakir in goal, with Zeki Celik, Ozan Kabak, Abdulkerim Bardakci and Eren Elmali in defense.
Salih Ozcan and Orkun Kokcu began in midfield, while Oguz Aydin, Kenan Yildiz, Arda Guler and Baris Alper Yilmaz formed Türkiye's attacking line.
The match comes after the Turkish Football Federation backed Montella despite early elimination. Federation President Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu had said the team's long-term target remains EURO 2028 and ruled out claims that the coach could leave after the World Cup.
Montella also said before the match that he would not resign, adding: "If there are people waiting for me to resign, they should accept it, because I am not leaving. I am not perfect, I make mistakes all the time, but there is no perfect coach either."
The United States started with Turner in goal, followed by Trusty, McKenzie, Scally and Robinson in defense.
Reyna, McKennie, Berhalter, Aaronson, Weah and Pepi also started for the host nation, which entered the match on six points after already securing first place in Group D.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino had said before the fixture that he did not want to take needless risks with players who were one yellow card away from suspension. In World Cup terms, a suspension means a player becomes unavailable for the next match after receiving another booking.
Single yellow cards from the group stage are wiped out before the knockout round, but Pochettino said the decision to protect certain players was natural and logical as the United States prepared for the next stage.
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