U.S. MNT defeats Turkey 2-1 in second game of send-off series
HARRISON, New Jersey (via U.S. Soccer) – Fabian Johnson and Clint Dempsey each scored a goal as the U.S. Men’s National Team defeated Turkey 2-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 26,762 at Red Bull Arena.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard, who played the opening 45 minutes, set a U.S. MNT record with the 54th win of his National Team career, breaking Kasey Keller’s record. Brad Guzan played the second half.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Fabian Johnson (Michael Bradley), 26th minute: The hustle of Fabian Johnson and the precision passing of Michael Bradley worked to perfection for the USA. Johnson passed to Bradley and immediately darted up the middle of Turkey’s defense. Bradley took a quick touch and flicked the ball ahead just inside the box, where Johnson one-timed with his left foot and found the inside of the left side of the frame for a one-goal lead. It was Johnson’s first goal in 21 international appearances. USA 1, TUR 0 (SEE GOAL)
USA – Clint Dempsey (unassisted), 52nd minute: Clint Dempsey was in the right place at the right time when Turkey defender Hakan Kadir Balta faltered on a clearance. The U.S. MNT worked the ball around from Michael Bradley, Brad Davis and left back Timmy Chandler who sent the ball into the area. Balta had every opportunity to clear the cross, but he botched the touch and the ball trickled to Dempsey near the right post, where the MNT captain capitalized with his first goal of 2014 and 37th goal of his career. USA 2, TUR 0 (SEE GOAL)
TUR – Selcuk Inan (penalty kick), 90th minute: With injury time looming, Timmy Chandler lost the ball to Mustafa Pektemek, who attacked the near right side against U.S. goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Pektemek patiently waited for an opening, shot to the left side of the frame and USA center back Geoff Cameron was called for a handball to stop the shot. Selcuk Inan crisply struck his right-footed penalty inside the left side of the frame, past a diving Guzan who anticipated correctly on the attempt. USA 2, TUR 1 (FINAL)
Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
TUR – Ozan Tufan, 21st minute: Six minutes earlier, Jozy Altidore’s header goal was disallowed for a push to Turkey goalkeeper Onur Recep Kivrak. But Altidore stayed heavy on the attack and dished from the right side of the box to Michael Bradley. Bradley’s shot was blocked by Turkey defender Ozan Tufan. Tufan’s right-footed clearance kept the score level at the time as both teams came close on several occasions during the opening 25 minutes.
USA – Jermaine Jones, 35th and 36th minutes: U.S. holding midfielder Jermaine Jones had a couple big stops in a one-minute stretch to keep Turkey off of the score sheet. He blocked a Gokhan Gonul shot in the 35th minute and then made a sliding stop to disrupt another Gonal strike with his right foot. Jones briefly received medical attention as he took the shot to his body, but he was quick to continue play.
TUR – Ozan Tufan and Onur Recep Kivrak, 37th minute: In a frenzied sequence, Jozy Altidore sent the ball ahead to Clint Dempsey who initially had a step on Turkey defender Ozan Tufan. As the two rushed into the box, Tufan bumped shoulder-to-shoulder to disrupt Dempsey’s attempt. Shouts for a penalty arose from the U.S. MNT bench, but play continued and Dempsey stuck with the loose ball, only to have his second attempt blocked by Turkey goalkeeper Onur Recep Kivrak.
USA – Brad Guzan, 60th minute: The left side of USA’s defense allowed Gokhan Gonul to have plenty of open space down the right side. Chandler attempted to track back in time to get in front of Gonul, but Gonul got his shot off at the near right side. Second-half sub Guzan stepped up, however, with a clutch save at the near right post to keep the two-goal lead at the time.
TUR – Onur Recep Kivrak, 81st minute: Mix Diskerud played the ball to Jozy Altidore down the right side and Altidore cut inside to his left to evade Turkey’s Ozan Tufan. That created a strong one-on-one chance against Turkey goalkeeper Onur Recep Kivrak, but Kivrak stepped up with a foot save to turn away the U.S. MNT striker.
