Christian Pulisic subs on as U.S. loses to Türkiye on last kick - ESPN

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After starting the World Cup with two performances full of incredible verve and vibrancy, the United States finished their group stage with a showing that was erratic, inconsistent and ultimately dispiriting as they lost for the first time at this World Cup — beaten on the final kick of the game when Turkiye substitute Kaan Ayhan smashed the ball into the net off a scramble in front of goal.

Fans may reasonably say that the result — Türkiye 3, U.S. 2 — matters little, both because the U.S. fielded a team full of reserves and because the group's larger fate was already determined after they beat Paraguay and Australia in their two previous games. The U.S. knew before kickoff that, whatever happened, they would face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32 on Wednesday in Santa Clara.

They still will. And presumably they will do so with Christian Pulisic, who entered just before the hour and played with familiar pace and power. While the U.S. succeeded in his absence, there is no question the Americans are far better with their incisive attacker than without him.

Pulisic did not seem to have any limitations from the calf injury that forced him out of the opening match at halftime and left him on the bench completely for the second game.

When a long ball was flighted diagonally in his direction, he judged that the Turkish defender wouldn't be able to reach it and accelerated into its path, pushing it forward and whizzing into the area where he smashed a shot off the post. Moments later, he had another chance that forced Ugurcan Çakir into a sharp save and with 15 minutes to go he lashed a left-footed attempt from distance — even as he slipped — that whistled wide.

It was everything the U.S. could have hoped