USMNT must heed World Cup lessons learned in loss ...
Key takeaways
- Should it be frustrated at conceding a late winner?
- At times in the first half, the U.S. looked overwhelmed by Türkiye's technical proficiency.
- It was a performance that was by no means an oil painting, with huge oscillations between positive and negative play.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Should it be frustrated at conceding a late winner? Or should it take some solace in a performance that saw some of the team's less experienced players grow in the game?
There will likely be a little bit of both. At times in the first half, the U.S. looked overwhelmed by Türkiye's technical proficiency. But the Americans responded with a gutsy second-half performance that appeared to have them headed to a 2-2 draw. But Türkiye had the last word, with Kaan Ayhan netting in the eighth minute of stoppage time secure a 3-2 win for the Crescent-Stars. A gut punch for sure, and one that will serve as a lesson for the USMNT.
It was a performance that was by no means an oil painting, with huge oscillations between positive and negative play. This was to be expected given that U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino fielded a heavily rotated lineup. The Americans play was aided by the return of Christian Pulisic; his entrance in the 58th minute -- his first minutes in the tournament since coming off at half-time in the opening match against Paraguay -- saw the U.S. immediately look more fluid in attack. Prior to this entrance, the U.S. had been heavily reliant on set pieces. It showed just how much better the hosts are when Pulisic is on the field.