Turkey Toppled Venezuela by Coming from Behind: 2-1

The Turkey National Team could not make the start it wanted in the match that began at 01:00 Turkish time on Sunday night at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. In the 13th minute, on Venezuela's attack developed from the left wing, Gleiker Mendoza sent the ball into Uğurcan Çakır's nets with a hard shot from outside the penalty area: 1-0. The crescent-and-stars could not send the ball into the nets until the last moment of the first half despite increasing the pressure. In the 44th minute, on Arda Güler's corner from the right wing, the defence could not control the ball on his direct shot to goal; the unmarked Barış Alper Yılmaz sent the ball into the nets and the half closed 1-1.

In the second half, after coming onto the field with 7 changes, Montella's tactical plan found its reward in the 54th minute. In the attack developed from the midfield, Yunus Akgün, who met the ball at the penalty box arc with Arda Güler's pass, signed a magnificent goal with a very hard shot and put the crescent-and-stars 2-1 ahead. Turkey continued its dominance on the field in the following minutes; the statistics also confirmed this. According to end-of-match figures, the Turkey National Team was well above the opponent's 0.41 in xG value with 1.51, ahead 16-9 in total shots, and clearly superior 27-10 in the number of ball touches in the opponent's penalty area. In ball possession, a balanced table emerged with 53%. In the match refereed by Quintero D. (Mexico), Arda Güler in Turkey, and Segovia and Aramburu in Venezuela saw yellow cards.

In the starting XI, Vincenzo Montella made 7 changes compared to the first preparation match played against North Macedonia in Istanbul; he started with Uğurcan Çakır - Zeki Çelik, Ozan Kabak, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Eren Elmalı - İsmail Yüksek, Orkun Kökçü - Arda Güler, İrfan Can Kahveci, Barış Alper Yılmaz - Deniz Gül XI. Throughout the match, Merih Demiral, Kenan Yıldız, Yunus Akgün, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Mert Müldür, Salih Özcan, Can Uzun, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Oğuz Aydın also gradually came onto the field. At the end of the match, it was seen that the Turkey National Team used all 5 substitution rights, and Montella left no one untried in his broad squad.

The Turkey National Team is in Group D at the World Cup with host USA, Australia and Paraguay. The crescent-and-stars will face Australia in their first match in the tournament on June 14. After the Venezuela match, the delegation will move to the main camp centre in Arizona Mesa. Vincenzo Montella had stated that the victories taken in the two preparation matches were morale-boosting; Turkey, shown in 24th place in The Athletic's 48-team power list, left behind a preparation period slightly above expectations.

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