LEILA FADEL, HOST:
U.S. men's national soccer team got its first loss in the FIFA World Cup last night against Turkey. But the result doesn't change anything for the Americans, who had already clinched their spot in the knockout phase of the tournament. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports from Los Angeles.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: (Chanting) USA.
BECKY SULLIVAN, BYLINE: It was a rowdy crowd of more than 70,000 who turned out in sunny Southern California to see the rare World Cup game that didn't really matter. Win, lose or draw, Turkey had already been eliminated. And the U.S. had already won their group and with it, an advantageous path in the knockout round starting next week. Because of that, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino chose to rest most of his usual starters and instead fielded a team of players who hadn't had that much playing time at all. Still, they had wanted to win, said forward Brenden Aaronson.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
BRENDEN AARONSON: Lost the game, but I don't think it was a game to lose. We had a lot of chances. And, you know, we could have done better in some defensive plays, but you know what happens. You make 10 changes, you know, the team might not be used as, you know, the guys that have been playing.
SULLIVAN: Defender Auston Trusty and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter scored the two American goals, but the B-team defense was leaky and gave up a pair of goals in the first half. Then, after keeping up a 2-2 tie for most of the second, Turkey scored the winner in the final minute of the game. One bright spot was the return of star winger Christian Pulisic, who came on in the second half as a sub to a big standing ovation. Pulisic didn't score, but he had one great chance and gave Aaronson another.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
AARONSON: Just having him come into the game - he makes such a difference. You know, a lot of attention, of course, goes to him. So other guys, you know, have moments to, you know, have chances and stuff like that, too. But yeah. He came on. He was electric, as always.
SULLIVAN: The U.S. men had gotten off to their hottest start ever at the World Cup. This loss does cool them off a bit, but Pochettino says he's not worried about the result.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MAURICIO POCHETTINO: (Through interpreter) But we need to remember that we won the first place in this group. We ended up being No. 1. And we managed all of the pressure and the expectations quite well.
SULLIVAN: In the press conference after the game, as reporters questioned him about slowing momentum and lessons learned, Pochettino grew impatient with what he saw as too much negativity.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
POCHETTINO: I think it's all positive, and I am so positive. And I am happy. Maybe I am not showing because your question are a little bit weird, but I am so happy. And the player are happy because I think we perform, we compete and we are first.
SULLIVAN: That first-place finish means that next Wednesday in the knockout phase, the Americans will face Bosnia and Herzegovina. The U.S. will be the favorites.
Becky Sullivan, NPR News, Los Angeles.
(SOUNDBITE OF THE BUDOS BAND'S "OLD ENGINE OIL") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR鈥檚 programming is the audio record.
