By Ridge Mahoney
in St. Etienne
Only four U.S. players who took the field Thursday against Turkey in the Confederations Cup were playing a European team in Europe for the first time, so inexperience could not be a factor in the disappointing showing by the Americans.
Turkey started only three players — backup keeper Omer Catkic and starting defenders Alpay Ozalan and Bulent Korkmaz — from the team that finished third at the 2002 World Cup and showed the difference in the depth of talent between the two teams by winning, 2-1, at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard.
Tuncay Sanli, who scored the winning goal, was every bit as dangerous as Hasan Sas had been last year. Tuncay led a determined Turkish assault that controlled central midfield and won the majority of second balls.
Tuncay's goal personified how the game went. Volkan Arslan scooped up a loose ball without a challenge from the U.S. midfield, played the ball to Tuncay, received the return pass and slipped the ball through for Tuncay darting behind the backline. Tuncay took the ball around goalie Tim Howard and tucked it in from a tight angle.
It was not a good day for the American midfield. Chris Armas broke up his share of Turkish attacks but, like several of his teammates, was caught with the ball at his feet. Bobby Convey, who played with Armas in central midfield, stuck in a couple of good tackles but overhit his passes badly. Turnovers in midfield and out of the back troubled the U.S. for much of the match.
With Eddie Lewis quiet on the left side and DaMarcus Beasley only rarely dangerous on the right, the U.S. attack sputtered. Striker Jovan Kirovski's inability — and that of his teammates — to hold the ball starved the U.S. attack of rhythm. Landon Donovan, whose curling cross fell perfectly for Beasley to head into the goal and give the U.S. the lead, never really got into the game.
Three minutes after Beasley's goal, the game turned back in Turkey's favor. Tuncay controlled a ball from Volkan with his upper arm and then went down as Dan Califf's foot jabbed Tuncay's leg. Referee Jorge Larrionda motioned he believed Tuncay had used his shoulder — he hadn't — and also pointed to the spot. Okan Yilmaz beat Howard from the penalty spot to tie the score.
Howard was one of the few players praised by U.S. coach Bruce Arena, who bluntly stated ''five or six'' didn't meet the necessary standards. Howard denied Okan with a kick save early in the game, and his long ball to Donovan on the U.S. goal was one of several impressive boots off the ground with either foot.