USA vs. Turkey was a roller-coaster of emotions

The rather meaningless last group-stage game for USA was simply wild, but also a rather disappointing event for USA fans. Thankfully, the result had zero impact on what happens next and the media pundits are already making excuses for the loss suggesting things like USA wasn't trying as hard as they can because it doesn't matter if they lose.

I will go ahead and acknowledge that this very well could have been a factor, but the game itself was absolutely wild even though in the end it resulted in a heart-breaking last second goal to give Turkey the win.

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The goal happened in the 98th minute in a game that was meant to have only 7 minutes of added time. I predicted that there would be a ton of whining in various forums about how the refs let the game go on "too long" and sure enough, the forums were immediately filled with exactly that.

Here's what I can tell these numpties from decades of playing and officiating football of the soccer variety: You NEVER stop the game when one team has a forward run on goal even if it goes one or more minutes past extra time. You wait until that side is dispossessed and then you blow the final whistle. Turkey was on the offensive as they had been many times before on this last-minute run. With double coverage in the top corner, it seemed certain that the striker was going to have the ball taken off of him and I am sure that this is exactly what the officials were waiting for.

But instead of that happening the Turkish striker did a dribble that went between the American defenders legs (This is called a "Nutmeg" in USA) and met the ball on the other side. It was an absolutely brilliant move that was followed up by another brilliant cross, and was followed up by a save by the goalkeeper than just had unfortunate placement right at the feet of a Turkish man on offense that put the ball right in front of one of the only parts of the goal that were open.

It was an absolutely fantastic goal and to deny them this would have been truly awful.

The USA had a lot of opportunities to take possession away and if they had the game would have been over.

Sure it was very disappointing to all the fans but that is the way this game works. I struggle to enjoy football-of-the-soccer-variety because of the low scoring, as do most of my domestic friends, but this intensity of a goal after it seems all is lost, is part of the international frenzy and why this sport is by far, the most popular in the world.

I'm still not going to start watching MLS though :P

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Let's look at this first half though so you can understand the roller-coaster of emotion. USA, a team that really doesn't get a lot of respect on the global stage, scores a goal in 3 minutes.

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I mean, what a way to start the friggin game! But as the usual chants of USA USA USA were near deafening in the stadium that was all squashed just 7 minutes later when Turkey equalized. The crowd got even quieter when Turkey went up 2-1 after minute 31.

A renewed team-USA came out of the halftime team-talks to take just a few minutes to equalize again...

Then the moment that USA fans have been waiting for happened in the 58th minute. Christian Pulisic returned to the field.

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Not only was he back, but he was a force to be reckoned with almost immediately with 2 shots on target that only missed by mere inches. He looks ready for the games in the future.

Then a million substitutions later it looked like the game would end in a draw only to break the hearts of all the fans in the stands when a 98th minute goal happened for Turkey.

I was a bit disappointed as well but what a wonderful consolation prize that is for Turkey. They were getting sent home and eliminated from the World Cup even if they had won this game 17-0, the USA was moving forward to the top of the group no matter the result as well.

I do not buy into the theory that the USA wasn't really trying though. Sure there might have been a few conservative substitutions aimed at preserving the top talent, but to suggest that any team ever doesn't try to win is just pure nonsense.

Take the "L", move on, and make sure you are good and ready for the knockout stages. Those are the times when the emotional outbursts will be somewhat warranted.

Now of the Americans could just get a song or two that isn't just USA! USA! USA!