06/25/26 10:37:00
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06/25 22:35 CDT US uses Pulisic as substitute, sends out 9 new starters vs.
Turkey in World Cup group finale
US uses Pulisic as substitute, sends out 9 new starters vs. Turkey in World Cup
group finale
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) --- Christian Pulisic came on as a second-half
substitute in the United States' final World Cup group match against Turkey on
Thursday night.
The Americans sent out nine new starters for this meaningless game with their
knockout-round place already secured, but Pulisic replaced Tim Weah in the 58th
minute for his first game action since the first half of their 4-1 victory over
Paraguay nearly two weeks ago.
Pulisic said this week that he is ready to play again after coming out at
halftime with a calf injury in the Americans' home World Cup opener. The AC
Milan midfielder entered the 2-2 game to an enormous roar from the sellout
crowd at SoFi Stadium, and he created a scoring opportunity just a couple of
minutes later with a dynamic run down the left side.
Pulisic nearly scored again in the 63rd minute, but his quick shot off a nice
pass from Sebastian Berhalter was knocked off the goalpost by Turkey goalkeeper
Ugurcan Cakir, and Brenden Aaronson botched his follow-up chance.
The American team has already won its group and clinched a matchup with
Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 next week, so coach Mauricio Pochettino
used this meaningless final match to give playing time to the second string on
his 26-man squad.
Auston Trusty scored for the Americans in the third minute, but Turkey took a
2-1 lead into halftime. Berhalter tied it again for the U.S. in the 49th minute.
The Americans kept Pulisic on the bench to begin the match along with the four
key U.S. players who have already picked up yellow cards: striker Folarin
Balogun, Tyler Adams and top defenders Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards.
Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi were the only starters in the lineup against
Turkey who also started the Americans' 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle
last week. McKennie, the U.S. captain against Turkey, was the only player to
start all three group matches, while Pepi remained in the lineup after
replacing Pulisic against the Socceroos.
Pochettino also swapped out starting goalkeeper Matt Freese for Matt Turner,
who was the Americans' starter for all four matches at the Qatar World Cup four
years ago.
The new starters were Turner, Auston Trusty, Gio Reyna, Aaronson, Miles
Robinson, Berhalter, Tim Weah, Mark McKenzie and Joe Scally.
Turner, Aaronson, McKenzie and Miles Robinson all got their first playing time
at this World Cup.
The U.S. faces Bosnia on Wednesday, July 1, in Santa Clara, California.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/FIFA-World-Cup
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