EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — A third straight loss for the U.S. men’s soccer team didn’t prevent coach Mauricio Pochettino from thinking big.
“We need to believe. We need to compete like today and for sure we’re going to have the possibility to win the World Cup,” Pochettino said after the Americans dropped their third straight game, wasting an early lead in a 2-1 loss to Turkey in an exhibition Saturday as they prepare for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Jack McGlynn scored 59 seconds in for the U.S., which was missing many of its regulars as Pochettino revamped his roster after a dismal performance at the CONCACAF Nations League finals in March.
Turkey took advantage of sloppy defense as Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored in a span of 2:20 midway through the first half.
While the U.S. had 60% possession and outshot Turkey 13-11, the Americans dropped to 5-4 under Pochettino, who took over when the U.S. Soccer Federation fired coach Gregg Berhalter after the team failed to advance beyond group play at last year’s Copa America tournament. The Americans have lost three straight for the second time in a year.