Omanghana
Although already eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Türkiye produced one of the tournament’s most memorable performances by defeating the United States 3-2 with a dramatic stoppage-time winner at a packed Los Angeles Stadium.
The defeat marked the United States’ first loss of the competition, but it had little impact on their campaign as the Americans had already secured top spot in Group D before kickoff. For Türkiye, the victory served as a fitting finale to their World Cup journey, ending their campaign on a high note with a spirited display against the group winners.
Fast Start for the Americans
The United States wasted no time asserting themselves and opened the scoring in just the second minute. Capitalizing on their second corner kick of the match, defender Auston Trusty reacted quickest in the penalty area to fire home and give the hosts an early 1-0 advantage.
Arda Güler Sparks Türkiye Comeback
Türkiye quickly found their rhythm against a heavily rotated U.S. lineup that featured numerous reserve players. In the 10th minute, 21-year-old star Arda Güler leveled the score with a composed finish beyond goalkeeper Matt Turner.
The momentum continued to swing in Türkiye’s favor, and in the 31st minute they completed the turnaround. A well-worked attacking move orchestrated by Orkun Kökçü created space for Barış Alper Yılmaz, who calmly slid the ball into the net to make it 2-1 before halftime.
Berhalter Brings the U.S. Back Into the Match
The Americans responded immediately after the break. Just four minutes into the second half, a chaotic scramble outside the penalty area ended with Sebastian Berhalter unleashing a spectacular curling strike from distance to restore parity at 2-2.
The goal reignited the contest, with both sides pushing for a winner despite the limited stakes attached to the outcome.
Late Drama Seals Turkish Victory
As the match appeared destined for a draw, Türkiye delivered one final moment of brilliance deep into stoppage time.
In the eighth minute of added time, Arda Güler produced dazzling footwork to beat his defender before linking up with Can Uzun, whose dangerous delivery into the box found veteran defender Kaan Ayhan. Sliding in at the far post, Ayhan converted the decisive goal to hand Türkiye a dramatic 3-2 victory.
United States Finish Top Despite Defeat
Having already guaranteed qualification as Group D winners, the United States made 10 changes to their starting lineup in an effort to rest key players and avoid yellow-card suspensions ahead of the knockout stage.
While the result ended their unbeaten run, it did not alter the group standings, with the U.S. comfortably advancing to the Round of 32. Türkiye, despite their heroic performance, bowed out of the tournament with a memorable upset victory that showcased their resilience and attacking quality.
Group D Final Standings
- United States – Qualified as Group Winners
- Second-place team – Qualified for the Round of 32
- Third-place team – Dependent on tournament standings
- Türkiye – Eliminated after concluding their campaign with a 3-2 victory over the United States
Source: Omanghana
