Match Summary
In a rain-soaked friendly match on Saturday, Turkey capitalized on defensive lapses to secure a 2-1 victory over the United States, marking the Americans’ third consecutive defeat. The decisive moments came midway through the first half when Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoglu found the net within a span of just 2 minutes and 20 seconds, turning the tide after the U.S. had initially taken an early lead.
Key Moments of the Match
The U.S. opened the scoring just 59 seconds into the match when Jack McGlynn, who was playing in his fifth international match, curled a left-footed shot into the net after receiving a pass from Malik Tillman. This goal marked the fastest for the U.S. since Shaq Moore netted one within 20 seconds against Canada during the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.
However, the American squad was not at full strength, as coach Mauricio Pochettino opted for a mix of new talent and veteran players following a disappointing performance at the Concacaf Nations League final four in March, where they lost to Canada. With this latest defeat, the U.S. record under Pochettino has now dropped to 5-4. He is now the first coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) to suffer three consecutive losses since Jurgen Klinsmann did so in 2015.
Lineup Changes and Player Debuts
Pochettino made significant changes to his lineup, starting eight new players compared to the previous match. He retained only three from the original squad. Notably, 20-year-old Alex Freeman, son of former NFL star Antonio Freeman, made his debut in defense, while Matt Freese, who plays for New York City FC, was given his first start in goal as well. The regular goalkeeper Matt Turner was not utilized in this match following an absence from Crystal Palace’s lineup since early March.
Turkey’s Response and Future Matches
Turkey responded quickly after falling behind, equalizing in the 24th minute. A miscommunication seeing the ball deflected off a defender led to Güler notching his fifth international goal. Just three minutes later, Aktürkoglu capitalized on a clearance attempt by Miles Robinson, firing a shot past Freese to secure his 12th international goal, solidifying Turkey’s lead.
Looking ahead, the U.S. will face Switzerland in Nashville on Tuesday before kicking off the Concacaf Gold Cup against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15, with a pivotal World Cup co-hosting year approaching. On the other side, Turkey is preparing for their World Cup qualifying campaign, boasting a commendable record of six wins, one loss, and one draw in their last eight outings, while celebrating the international debuts of several players, including goalkeeper Berke Özer.
