7M - Turkiye 3-2 USA: Ayhan scores 98th-minute winner as Crescent Stars edge five-goal World Cup thriller

Turkiye produced one of the stories of the tournament so far, shattering the United States’ unbeaten record with a sensational 3-2 victory over the co-hosts in a five-goal thriller at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

Baris Alper Yilmaz and a spirited Turkish frontline capitalised on defensive lapses from Gregg Berhalter's side, surviving a late American onslaught to claim a famous three points and throw Group D wide open ahead of the Round of 32.

The USMNT, who entered the final group match with maximum points, looked to assert dominance early on with Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie pulling the strings in midfield. However, Turkiye defied the raucous home crowd by executing a flawless tactical counter-press, striking with clinical precision on the break to rattle the tournament hosts and grab the upper hand.

The Americans refused to go down without a fight in front of their home fans, with second-half substitute Brenden Aaronson adding energy and finding the back of the net alongside a Pulisic-inspired offense. Yet, every time the USMNT threatened to claw their way back, Turkiye responded with immense discipline and tactical steel, punishing spaces left by an overlapping American backline.

Turkiye managed the closing stages with superb maturity under intense pressure, neutralizing the hosts' direct aerial threat to protect their narrow 3-2 advantage until the final whistle. While the defeat serves as a timely wake-up call for the United States as they head into the knockouts, the heroic victory gives Turkiye a fighting chance of securing progression as the group stage concludes.