ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Turner was in goal for the United States for Saturday's friendly against Belgium, raising the possibility he has a chance to regain the Americans' starting job from Matt Freese at the World Cup.
Turner, 31, was the U.S. starter at the 2022 World Cup but hadn't played for the national team since a friendly against Switzerland on June 10. Freese, 27, displaced him in goal for the CONCACAF Gold Cup last summer and had made 12 straight starts, including all six friendlies last fall.
Turner's career slowed following a move from Major League Soccer's New England Revolution to Arsenal ahead of the 2022-23 season. He didn't get into a Premier League match and was limited to five Europa League and two FA Cup games with the Gunners. Turner transferred to Nottingham Forest and lost the starting job midway through the 2023-24 season, was loaned to Crystal Palace where he became a seldom-used backup, then returned to the Revolution last August.
Freese has been the starter for MLS's New York City team since 2023. U.S. goalkeepers were a strength from 1990 through 2018 with Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel and Tim Howard, but the current generation has failed to land extended starts with top European teams.
Left back Antonee Robinson, recovered from leg injuries, made his first appearance since Nov. 18, 2024.
With the U.S. missing right back Sergiño Dest, defenders Chris Richards and Miles Robinson, and midfielder Tyler Adams because of injuries, coach Mauricio Pochettino started Tim Weah as right back and Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie and Tanner Tessmann as central defenders.
Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman were in midfield, Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic on the wings and Folarin Balogun at striker.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
The United States starting 11 players poses for a team photo before an international friendly soccer match against Belgium, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
BENGALURU, India (AP) — Star batter Virat Kohli hit 69 not out off 38 balls, including five sixes and five fours, as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets in the Indian Premier League season-opener on Saturday.
Devdutt Padikkal smashed a 26-ball 61, with four sixes and seven fours, as Bengaluru raced to 203-4 in 15.4 overs with 26 deliveries to spare.
Earlier, New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy picked up 3-22 in four overs on his IPL debut as Hyderabad finished with 201-9 in 20 overs. Stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan hit 80 off 38 balls, including five sixes, with Aniket Verma adding an 18-ball 43.
Chasing a par score at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru lost Phil Salt cheaply – out caught for eight.
But impact substitute Padikkal lived up to his role as he raced to 50 off 21 balls. He put on 101 runs off 45 deliveries with Kohli as Bengaluru set a hectic pace in its chase – 76-1 in powerplay and 100 off just 8.1 overs.
Padikkal was caught in the 9th over, but skipper Rajat Patidar didn’t let the momentum slip. He smashed 31 off 12 balls and put on 53 off 22 with Kohli for the third wicket.
Sunrisers’ impact player David Payne struck twice in the 13th over – Patidar and Jitesh Sharma (0) were caught off consecutive deliveries.
But Kohli paced the chase well and Bengaluru was never in serious trouble.
Kohli brought up his 64th IPL half-century off 33 balls to the delight of a packed home ground and then raced to the finish, hitting 18 off Harshal Patel’s four deliveries in the 16th over.
Tim David hit 16 not out off 10 balls, sharing a 40-run unbeaten stand with Kohli off 19 balls.
Put into bat, Hyderabad’s top order struggled against Duffy’s disciplined bowling. Big hitting openers Abhishek Sharma (7) and Travis Head (11) fell cheaply, while Nitish Reddy was out caught for 1.
Hyderabad was 29-3 in 4.2 overs, when Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen came to the rescue with 97 off 53 for the fourth wicket.
Kishan continued his T20 World Cup form to rescue his side, hitting five sixes and eight fours in his 27-ball 50.
Klaasen made 31 off 22, and looked good for more. He was adjudged caught at midwicket off Romario Shepherd. Phil Salt’s catch was reviewed by the third umpire and Klaasen was not pleased with the decision.
Salt pulled another one-handed stunner at the deep point fence – already a contender for catch of the season – as he dived to the right to dismiss Kishan in the 16th over.
With Hyderabad running out of batting, Aniket Verma (43) smacked four sixes and three fours in 18 balls to take his side past the 200 mark.
But it never looked enough against a raging Bengaluru batting side.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Jacob Duffy, second left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Sunrisers Hyderabad's Travis Head during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Sunrisers Hyderabad's captain Ishan Kishan plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Devdutt Padikkal plays a shot during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli, left, gestures to the fans as he walks out with teammate Tim David after winning the Indian Premier League cricket match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli, left, gestures to the fans as he walks out with teammate Tim David after winning the Indian Premier League cricket match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bengaluru, India, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
