U.S. Men’s National Team Player Reviews: goalkeeper Matt Turner flops with a 3‑10 rating

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  Ryan S. ClarkJun 26, 2026, 12:20 AM ET

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  Ryan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.

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It seemed the U.S. men’s national team was on the verge of completing group‑stage play unbeaten, but Kaan Ayhan’s dramatic late goal secured a 3‑2 defeat for the Americans against Türkiye at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Having opened the tournament with two victories and secured first place in Group D, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino was able to rotate most of his starting eleven, using the match to evaluate peripheral players. Early signs were encouraging, as Auston Trusty and Sebastian Berhalter each found the net, yet the defense struggled to contain Türkiye’s attacking threats.

Below is a breakdown of the events, the underlying factors, and the implications for the U.S. as they advance to the knockout stage.

Manager rating (out of 10)

Mauricio Pochettino, 6 – The match’s primary takeaway for Pochettino and his staff was a clearer understanding of squad depth. While several players demonstrated reliability and warranted future selection, others raised questions about consistency. A draw had appeared equitable until a late defensive lapse decided the outcome.

USMNT player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, 5 = average)

GK Matt Turner, 3 – He may have positioned himself too far forward on Arda Güler’s opening goal, allowing a close‑range finish, and appeared hesitant during Orkun Kökçü’s decisive strike. Nevertheless, Turner remained reliable in dealing with crosses until the late winner.

RB Joe Scally, 4 – Scally was quieter than the contributions of Alex Freeman and Sergino Dest in earlier matches, and he was caught out of position, ultimately being beaten on Kokcu’s goal that gave Türkiye a 2‑1 lead.

CB Miles Robinson, 5 – Robinson registered several clearances after Türkiye gained confidence following their second goal, but he was also part of the defensive group that was out of position on the second goal and again on Ayhan’s match‑winner.

CB Mark McKenzie, 3 – He faced a challenging night, appearing vulnerable on Guler’s equalising goal in the 10th minute and again on the subsequent strike. Like many in the back line, he was left exposed on the decisive goal.

LB Auston Trusty, 5 – Trusty opened the scoring with a header from a corner within the first two minutes, but he later committed turnovers that led to counters and struggled in one‑on‑one situations against Guler.

CM Weston McKennie, 5 – McKennie nearly opened the scoring from a corner before Trusty’s goal, and throughout the match he provided a presence that sought space to control tempo, though the team lacked consistency both on and off the ball.

CM Sebastian Berhalter, 7 – Berhalter delivered the strongest performance, with his first corner leading to a goal and a series of deliveries that threatened a second strike before halftime. His long‑range effort equalised for the U.S.

CM Giovanni Reyna, 4 – Reyna produced a few early moments, including drawing a foul and exchanging passes in Türkiye’s half, but also contributed to a turnover that resulted in a corner for the opposition.

RW Brenden Aaronson, 4 – Aaronson facilitated several attacks early on and earned a corner within the first 30 minutes, but struggled to find space later, losing possession in the 71st minute after a promising position.

LW Timothy Weah, 5 – Weah showed willingness to run and receive long balls probing Türkiye’s zone, but his pace worked against him, leading to an offside call and a substitution before the hour mark.

ST Ricardo Pepi, 5 – Playing centrally against Türkiye, Pepi was more visible than on the wing against Australia, contributing to midfield support and creating box chances that did not materialise.

Substitutes (players introduced after 70 minutes = no rating)

Christian Pulisic (Weah, 76′), 7 – Questions about Pulisic’s fitness following his absence for the Australia match were instantly answered, as he delivered the consistent threat the U.S. needed. He beat Zeki Celik, tested Ugurcan Çakir with a shot on goal, and narrowly missed the post with another attempt in the 77th minute.

CM Sergiño Dest (Reyna, 77′), NR – Operating primarily on the left and central zones alongside Pulisic, Dest had limited involvement in attacking phases during his brief cameo.

Alejandro Zendejas (Aaronson, 77′), NR – He touched the ball inside the box late in the second half, offering the U.S. a fleeting chance to threaten.

RB Alex Freeman (Scally 77′), NR – His introduction added defensive solidity to the right flank, though he was later caught in the group of defenders exposed on Türkiye’s winning goal.

CM Malik Tillman (McKennie 86′), NR – Tillman provided a box‑to‑box presence after replacing McKennie, helping the side see out the remainder of the match.

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