Turkey celebrates 3:2 farewell win against USA – co-hosts lose despite early lead

Dream start and quick turnaround

The Turkish response, however, did not take long. In the tenth minute, Arda Güler equalized to make it 1:1, marking Turkey's first goal of the tournament. The goal came after a quick combination finished by Güler from about seven meters out. Shortly afterward, Orkun Kökcü put Turkey ahead 2:1 in the 31st minute, with Baris Yilmaz also finding the net during this phase.

After the break, the USA pushed for an equalizer, and Sebastian Berhalter scored in the 49th minute to make it 2:2. Shortly before, a goal from Mark McKenzie had been ruled out for offside, further stirring the atmosphere among the 70,492 spectators. The home fans, some of whom had voiced their displeasure at halftime, were now appeased and grew particularly vocal when Christian Pulisic was brought on.

Berhalter equalizes – Pulisic brings new energy

Pulisic, who had missed the 2:0 win over Australia due to a calf injury, came on as a substitute in the 58th minute and immediately injected new energy into the attack. In the 63rd minute, the captain saw his shot tipped onto the post by Turkish goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir. The game appeared to be heading for a draw, but in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Kaan Ayhan struck.

The former Schalke player scored the much-celebrated 3:2 winner in the 98th minute, giving Turkey their first point at this World Cup. The Turks had previously lost both group games against Australia (0:2) and Paraguay (0:1) and were already eliminated before the final match.

Ayhan decides the game in stoppage time

For the USA, alongside Pulisic, goalkeeper Matt Turner also started, playing his first game of the tournament. Giovanni Reyna and Joe Scally of Borussia Mönchengladbach also benefited from the rotation. For Turkey, Salih Özcan of Borussia Dortmund and Ozan Kabak of TSG Hoffenheim were given their first World Cup starts.

Among the prominent spectators in the stadium were numerous stars from film and sport. Brad Pitt, Ashton Kutcher, Paris Hilton, and Jessica Alba were among the 70,492 attendees, as was former Germany captain Ilkay Gündogan, who watched the match attentively. The many celebrities saw two heavily rotated teams deliver an open and entertaining game.

Prominent spectators and numerous changes

For the USA, the journey continues in the round of 16 on July 2 at 2:00 p.m. local time (11:00 p.m. CEST) in Santa Clara. Waiting there is Bosnia-Herzegovina, featuring former Bundesliga star Edin Dzeko, an uncomfortable opponent. Turkey, meanwhile, heads home after the World Cup but can at least celebrate their first win since the 2002 World Cup.

In the parallel Group D fixture, Australia and Paraguay drew 0:0, allowing Australia to secure second place in the group with four points and advance to the knockout stage. For the Australians, it is their third World Cup knockout appearance after 2006 and 2022. Coach Anthony Popovic can look back on a successful group stage, even though the goalless draw against Paraguay provided a damp note to end on. Paraguay, currently ranked 37th in the world, could be a potential opponent for Germany later in the tournament.

Outlook: USA face Bosnia-Herzegovina

The Turkish squad will return home in the coming days, where the positive takeaways from the final game will feed into preparations for upcoming tasks. Despite the early elimination, Vincenzo Montella's team showed that they were competitive at this World Cup. The win against the co-hosts could send an important signal for Turkish football development.

For the USA, too, the real mission still lies ahead despite the defeat. The tournament on home soil is meant to be crowned with the world title, and the rotation against Turkey was a clear signal that energy is being conserved for the decisive games. The defeat is therefore unlikely to cause much concern in the American camp, even though the manner of the late concession provides cause for analysis.

Parallel fixture: Australia advance to the round of 16

Overall, the final Group D match delivered the expected entertainment and a dramatic conclusion with Turkey's stoppage-time winner. While the USA start the knockout stage as group winners, Turkey can at least head home with their heads held high and give their fans a historic moment.