Kaan Ayhan fires Türkiye to last-gasp victory over USA in World Cup Group D finale
Türkiye bowed out of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on a high note after former Schalke defender Kaan Ayhan secured Vincenzo Montella's side a dramatic 3-2 stoppage-time victory against the USA in Group D.
Türkiye 3-2 USA
Goals: 0-1 Trusty 3' (assist: Berhalter), 1-1 Güler 10' (assist: Yılmaz), 2-1 Yılmaz 31' (assist: Kökçü), 2-2 Berhalter 49', 3-2 Ayhan 90'+8
The final group-stage game of Group D at the World Cup brought together Türkiye and co-hosts USA in Los Angeles. With the Americans already guaranteed top spot in the group and Türkiye eliminated after two consecutive defeats, the match was largely a contest for pride.
Head coach Vincenzo Montella made considerable changes to his side, with only four players retaining their places from the previous game. USA boss Mauricio Pochettino also rotated heavily, with Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi the only players to keep their starting berths from the win over Australia.
Trusty fires USA ahead
The USA started on the front foot and were rewarded with an early goal. Brenden Aaronson had an early shot blocked before Matt Turner's opposite number was tested by Mark McKenzie.
Then, in the third minute, Sebastian Berhalter whipped an in-swinging corner from the left towards the far post, where Auston Trusty met it and fired a ferocious effort low and hard past Uğurcan Çakır to give the hosts the lead.
Güler and Yılmaz turn the tide
Türkiye responded with determination. In the 10th minute, Arda Güler progressed the ball, played a one-two with Barış Alper Yılmaz, and showed composure to finish past Turner and level the scores.
After the hydration break, Türkiye grew in confidence and began to find their rhythm. In the 31st minute, Güler played a perfectly weighted ball into the path of the overlapping Eren Elmalı, who fired the ball low across goal for Yılmaz to tap home and give his side the lead.
The USA threatened late in the first half — McKennie fired from distance and Trusty headed narrowly over from a corner — but Türkiye went into the break 2-1 ahead, scoring their first goals of the tournament.
Berhalter levels from the edge
The USA began the second half in control, just as they had the first. In the 49th minute, McKenzie's long throw was only cleared as far as Berhalter, who arrowed the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to make it 2-2.
The introduction of Christian Pulišić in the 58th minute, replacing Timothy Weah, lifted the game to a new level. Pulišić forced a save from Çakır before his effort struck the right post, with Aaronson unable to convert the rebound.
Ayhan came on for Kökçü in the 88th minute and, deep into stoppage time, with the game seemingly heading for a draw, Can Uzun's effort was deflected into the path of the former Schalke defender, who bundled the ball home from close range in the eighth minute of stoppage time to win it for Türkiye.
