A last-second goal ends the World Cup honeymoon for Mauricio Pochettino and the USA. Now the real work begins | CNN

Inglewood, California —

Mauricio Pochettino said he was happy. He said it in English, he said it in his native Spanish. He swore he was happy.

He didn’t sound happy. And really, there wasn’t much of a reason to be.

A little more than an hour before his post-match press conference in the bowels of SoFi Stadium, Pochettino watched his USA team give up a last-second goal to Turkey that ensured a 3-2 defeat in this final match of the group stage. A weakened US side – nine changes were made from the team that faced Australia last week in Seattle – had scored quickly, gave up two first-half goals and then equalized in a strong second half.

But a goal from Kaan Ayhan, scored with the last kick of the game, handed the US its first defeat after two dominant victories to open the tournament. And with it, he may have ended the honeymoon for this USA team.