INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The United States men’s national team conceded a goal on the final kick of the match Thursday night, losing 3-2 to Turkey in a World Cup group stage finale that had no bearing on the Americans’ knockout-round berth.
Kaan Ayhan scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time, sliding to knock home a pass from Can Uzun after the ball was pushed across the goalmouth by goalkeeper Matt Turner. The goal gave Turkey its only win of the tournament and handed the U.S. its first loss of the group stage.
The Americans had already clinched first place in Group D before kickoff, having beaten Paraguay and Australia by a combined 6-1. They will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes to his starting lineup, resting key players who had accumulated yellow cards and giving eight players their first World Cup start. He expressed frustration after the match that the narrow defeat was being viewed as a negative.
“For you not say congratulations that we won the group, that is a little bit sad,” Pochettino told reporters. “What we need to remember is we won first place in this group. … Making history is winning the World Cup, not just winning the group. It’s a little bit petty, if you will. You’re thinking just a little bit too small.”
Auston Trusty opened the scoring in the third minute, but Turkey responded with goals from Arda Güler and Orkun Kökçü before halftime. Sebastian Berhalter equalized in the 49th minute with a powerful strike from 20 yards, and the match appeared headed for a draw until Ayhan’s dramatic winner.
“We could have done better on some defensive plays, but it happens,” said Brenden Aaronson, one of the nine new starters. “It showed the hustle, the aggressiveness of the team. I think it’s a positive, because Turkey is a top team.”
Christian Pulisic entered in the 58th minute, his first action since the opening match due to a calf injury. He was involved in several attacking sequences but was beaten on the wing in the buildup to Turkey’s winning goal.
Berhalter said the loss does not diminish the team’s momentum. “We gave everything we had, and we’ll be ready for the knockouts,” he said. “Unfortunate not to get a result, but we’ll be ready for sure.”
Trusty’s goal was the Americans’ seventh of the tournament, tying their record for most goals in a single World Cup before the knockout stage. It also marked the 173rd goal of this World Cup, breaking the record for most combined goals in a tournament set four years ago in Qatar.
