National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10300 (Terracing: 7725, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Turgut Soyuer blasted a shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Matthew Benjamin having to make a save. 5 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Turgut Soyuer came free, but Matthew Benjamin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Turkey's Arman Ersan got a free kick in the 8th minute. In the 26th minute Turgut Soyuer shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Matthew Benjamin saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Matthew Benjamin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Turgut Soyuer, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 30 minutes had been played when some careless play by USA's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Servet Sönmez was slow to take the kick. During this time Turkey's players had a chance to rest. After 34 minutes of play, Turkey's Turgut Soyuer made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Matthew Benjamin was left in no man's land by his defense there! An unexpectedly hard shot by Turgut Soyuer in the 37th minute of play forced USA's goalkeeper Matthew Benjamin to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Turkey's zone, Kerry Sellers stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Cankut Wakabayashi came out of the goal and Kerry Sellers tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. A collision led to USA getting a freekick after 44 minutes play. Marcelo Ascencio hit a great ball. In the 46th minute, Kerry Sellers made a precise shot to the right of Cankut Wakabayashi. Turkey's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 1-2.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Turgut Soyuer made a kick off. Marcelo Ascencio made in the 52nd minute of the game a fairly good throw-in which was taken care of by Wilfredo Murphy. If Kerry Sellers had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 54th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Cankut Wakabayashi made an important save on a dangerous shot by Kerry Sellers in the 54th minute. USA's Kerry Sellers got a good chance for a goal in the 56th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Turgut Soyuer scored 2-2 in the 59th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Matthew Benjamin, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Matthew Benjamin took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Turgut Soyuer, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 63 minutes into the game, Turgut Soyuer cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 3-2. Matthew Benjamin was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Turkey made a substitution. Tevfik Hunalp replaced Arman Ersan. USA made a substitution. William Kerns replaced Donald Caldwell. USA's Claudio Marangoni was substituted for Caroll Baskin. 68 minutes into the match, Zé Dos Reis notched a goal, 4-2, to the right of USA's Matthew Benjamin. Matthew Benjamin was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Matthew Benjamin showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cuma Oruk, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. Tony Pacheco sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. USA's Matthew Benjamin played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Zé Dos Reis in the 73rd minute of play. After a rather tough play, USA's Kerry Sellers got a free kick in the 75th minute. 75 minutes into the match, USA's goal looked a bit too open when Zé Dos Reis came free, but Matthew Benjamin reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cuma Oruk in the 80th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Matthew Benjamin prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Matthew Benjamin made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cuma Oruk in the 81st minute of play. Zé Dos Reis's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Matthew Benjamin read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 83rd minute of play. With a little luck, Turkey's Cankut Wakabayashi got control of the ball when Kerry Sellers tried to sneak it across the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Kerry Sellers in the 90th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Cankut Wakabayashi saved Turkey from getting behind. In the 91st minute, Cuma Oruk ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Matthew Benjamin was frozen by the shot and now it was 5-2. Matthew Benjamin showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cuma Oruk in the 95th minute of the match. Zé Dos Reis scored 6-2 in the 96th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Matthew Benjamin, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Turkey had won after a very even match.