Kaan Ayhan's Stoppage-Time Winner Secures Türkiye 3-2 Victory Over USA in Final Group Match
June 26, 2026 · By yayscore Newsroom
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Türkiye snatched a dramatic 3-2 win against the USA in their final group stage match, thanks to a last-gasp Kaan Ayhan goal.
Türkiye clinched a thrilling 3-2 victory over the USA in their final World Cup group stage fixture. The match was a seesaw affair, with both teams displaying attacking intent and defensive frailties. The Americans started brightly, but Türkiye's resilience and a late strike proved decisive.
The game exploded into action early, with Auston Trusty putting USA ahead in the 3rd minute from a Sebastian Berhalter assist. Türkiye quickly responded as Arda Güler leveled matters in the 10th minute, assisted by Barış Alper Yılmaz. Yılmaz then scored himself in the 31st minute, giving Türkiye a 2-1 lead heading into halftime. The second half saw Sebastian Berhalter net his own goal for the USA in the 49th minute, drawing them level once more.
The turning point came deep into stoppage time. With both teams pushing for a winner, substitute Kaan Ayhan found the back of the net in the 98th minute, sending the Turkish fans into raptures and securing a vital three points. Despite USA enjoying more possession (53%) and a higher number of shots on goal (7 to 4), Türkiye's clinical finishing ultimately made the difference.
After prior losses to Australia and Paraguay, this victory concludes Türkiye's group stage campaign. For the USA, who had previously defeated Paraguay and Australia, this result marks their first defeat of the tournament.