The USMNT walked off the field in their World Cup group stage finale Thursday night with a 3-2 loss to Turkey, and honestly, the scoreline tells a different story than the game itself. Mauricio Pochettino rested his entire starting eleven, sending out a lineup that most fans probably wouldn’t have recognized from the opening whistle. And for about 75 minutes, it almost worked.
Turkey grabbed the win late when a defensive breakdown left Can Uzun wide open at the far post, slotting home the decider with just minutes remaining. But if you only saw the result, you’d miss the fact that this makeshift U.S. squad actually controlled large stretches of the match.
Starters: The Good, the OK and the Disappointing
Sebastian Berhalter was the clear standout, earning an 8 for his performance. He absolutely smoked a shot from distance that beat the Turkish keeper clean. Pochettino has been using him as the first guy off the bench all tournament, and games like this are exactly why. He controls the tempo, keeps possession moving, and now he’s shown he can score.
Auston Trusty got the scoring started and played solid defense before coming off with an injury. Miles Robinson was quietly the most consistent defender on the night, making a strong case to be the first defensive sub if the U.S. is protecting a lead in the knockout round.
On the other end, Tim Weah had a night to forget. He was caught offside constantly, and when he wasn’t, Turkey’s right back just manhandled him. He graded out at a 3, the lowest of any starter. Ricardo Pepi also struggled as the lone striker, finishing with a 4. He made runs that opened space for others, but that’s not enough when you’re the guy tasked with scoring goals.
Weston McKennie wore the captain’s armband and played his usual steady game, maybe too deferential early on when he could’ve shot himself. Brenden Aaronson looked dangerous throughout but lacked that final killer instinct. Gio Reyna was basically invisible, which might push Brenden Aaronson ahead of him in the attacking sub pecking order.
The Subs and the Late Collapse
Christian Pulisic came on for the final 30-plus minutes and looked electric immediately. He created three or four genuine scoring chances right out of the gate. None of them went in, but he gets the benefit of the doubt considering he’s been out with a calf injury for the last two games. He graded an 8.
Then there’s the moment that lost the game. Sergino Dest and Alex Freeman both came on as subs and both get a 1. They weren’t on the field long — Dest and Freeman entered together around the 77th minute — but they both fell asleep on Turkey’s winning goal, leaving Uzun completely unmarked at the back post. It’s harsh given how good both have been as starters in this tournament, but they simply didn’t execute in a big spot.
Alejandro Zendejas had a brief cameo and looked lively with the ball at his feet. Malik Tillman didn’t touch the ball enough to earn a grade.
Pochettino’s Gamble
Pochettino gets a 9 here, and that might surprise people who only look at the loss. His tactical setup worked. The formation created chances. His players were in positions to succeed. Two momentary defensive lapses and a lack of finishing in the final third cost the team, not the game plan.
Hindsight will say he should’ve played the starters. But if the U.S. beats Bosnia Herzegovina in the Round of 32, that rested lineup with fresh legs will look like genius. Pochettino bet on his depth. It almost paid off. Now we find out if that bet was worth it.
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