Turkey rallies for 2-1 win in friendly against US, which loses 3rd straight under Pochettino

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Turkey took advantage of a sloppy defense to beat the United States 2-1 in a rainy friendly on Saturday, dealing the Americans their third straight loss as Arda Güler and Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored in a 2-minute, 20-second span midway through the first half.

Jack McGlynn scored 59 seconds in for the U.S., which was missing many regulars as coach Mauricio Pochettino revamped his roster following a dismal performance at the CONCACAF Nations League final four in March.

With a year to go before co-hosting the World Cup, the U.S. plays Switzerland on Tuesday at Nashville, Tennessee, in another friendly, then opens the CONCACAF Gold Cup against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15.

The Americans dropped to 5-4 under Pochettino, who took over after first-round elimination last year's Copa America led the U.S. Soccer Federation to fire coach Gregg Berhalter. They have lost three straight for the second time in a year.

Pochettino changed eight starters from the Nations League loss to Canada in March, keeping only left back Max Arfsten, winger Diego Luna and forward Patrick Agyemang.

Defender Alex Freeman, a 20-year-old son of former NFL All-Pro receiver Antonio Freeman, started in his U.S. debut. Matt Freese, a starter at Major League Soccer’s New York City, made his debut in goal. Matt Turner, the usual starter since 2022, didn’t play for Crystal Palace after March 1.

McGlynn scored when he ran onto a pass from Malik Tilman, took several touches, cut inside and curled a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area inside the far post for his second goal in five international appearances. It was the earliest U.S. goal since Shaq Moore scored 20 seconds in against Canada during the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Turkey tied it in the 24th minute when Freese tapped the ball to Johnny Cardoso, whose pass ricocheted off a leg and past Freese for Güler's fifth international goal.

Then in the 27th, Miles Robinson tried to clear Oğuz Aydın's shot and the ball went to Aktürkoğlu, who one-timed a bouncing shot past Freese for his 12th international goal and sixth in eight games.

Turkey goalkeeper Berke Özer also made his international debut. Preparing for the start of its World Cup qualifying campaign in September, Turkey has six wins, one loss and one draw in its last eight games.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Turkey forward Kerem Aktürkoglu (7) shoots on goal ahead of United States defender Chris Richards (3) during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Turkey midfielder Orkun Kökçü (6) controls the ball ahead of United States midfielder Malik Tillman (17) as midfielder Johnny Cardoso (15) looks on during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

United States forward Patrick Agyemang (24) leaps for the ball between Turkey's Demiral Merit (3) and Söyüncü Çaglar (4) during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Turkey goalie Berke Özer (12) dives for but can't make the save on a goal by United States midfielder Jack McGlynn as United States defender Max Arfsten (27) and Turkey forward Oguz Aydin (20) look on during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Turkey forward Arda Güler (10) reacts after scoring a goal past United States goalie Matt Freese (25) during the first half of an international friendly soccer game, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

LONDON (AP) — Tennis great Serena Williams is not ruling out a return to singles competition but suggested Sunday it's not imminent ahead of her doubles comeback in the sport she dominated for two decades.

First up for the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is the doubles tournament at Queen’s Club, marking her first competitive tennis since the 2022 US Open.

“I can’t say no right now, I feel like I probably need to train a little bit more if I want to play singles, and we will see if I get there, and if not… that’s not my journey right now,” Williams said in an eagerly anticipated press conference on Sunday.

Williams will play alongside 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, who is 25 years her junior. Their first match is scheduled for Tuesday against third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe.

The 44-year-old Williams has not competed since bidding farewell at the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, she said she didn’t want to use the word “retiring” and instead declared that she was “evolving” away from tennis.

Williams, who shares her two daughters with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, revealed that as recently as December she believed she “definitely was not” returning to tennis, but, after some conversations, thought: “Well, why not? For lack of a better explanation.

“It’s summer, the kids aren’t in school, so it’s a perfect time to get out there, have fun, and see what happens.”

Williams won seven Wimbledon singles titles and six at the U.S. Open before stepping away from the game. She won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, including six at Wimbledon and two at the U.S. Open — all with her older sister Venus Williams.

She says she is liberating herself of any expectations ahead of her comeback.

“I don’t need to win,” Williams said. “I’ve won more than most people have in their whole lives, so it’s not that important to me, and it’s important that I keep reminding myself of that, because I don’t have anything to prove.

“I don’t have anything to lose, and everything here is just to gain … This whole journey is like, I’m putting no pressure on myself.”

In Mboko, Williams saw something, she said, “that reminded me a lot of myself” in her attitude, resilience and drive. After making the “pretty 11th-hour commitment” to Queen’s, she reached out to the Canadian via text message.

Mboko said: “She’s hitting great. She has such clean ball striking, she could probably take years off, and when she steps on the court she could probably find that rhythm again and find her timing. So I think that’s really a God-given gift that she has.

“I personally think she’s ready to go. I’m hitting with her, she’s hitting pretty big and she’s really fit, so we’ll see.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Serena Williams during a press conference at The Queen's Club, London, Sunday June 7, 2026. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Serena Williams of the US, left, speaks with Canada's Victoria Mboko at The Queen's Club, in London, Sunday June 7, 2026. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Serena Williams of the United States practices at Queen's Club, in London, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Serena Williams during a press conference at The Queen's Club, London, Sunday June 7, 2026. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Serena Williams of the US practices at The Queen's Club, in London, Sunday June 7, 2026. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)