USA and Portugal play to thrilling draw

           A goal from Varela deep in second half injury time rescued Portugal from certain elimination against the USA and gave the Iberian team a glimmer of hope going into their last group game.The USA and Portugal squared off in an all important Group G fixture at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus this evening with all still to play for after Germany and Ghana had battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw a day earlier. After conceding four goals against the Germans in their opener, nothing less than a win would have revived the Portuguese World Cup hopes. Another loss would have effectively meant the end of their World Cup, rendering their last encounter with Ghana purely academic. Another American win would have meant that the CONCACAF giants would have qualified for the round of sixteen for the second straight World Cup; giving them first place in the so called “Group of Death.” It was the Portuguese who would strike first as a defensive error by Geoff Cameron enabled Nani to capitalize and put his team in front. 1-0 Portugal in the 5^th minute.

           In the 12^th minute the USA won a free kick after a foul by Alves on Johnson in the Portugal half but the ensuing effort from Dempsey went off target. In the 16^th minute Portugal were forced to make a change after an injury to Postiga. He was replaced by Eder. A minute later the USA would have good chance to equalize but Dempsey’s shot was deflected for a corner. The ensuing opportunity was squandered though as the U.S. number 8 would fire his shot off target. In the 23^rd minute a positive American build up was wasted when Bradley’s long range effort went wide.  In the 27^th minute the U.S. forced a corner but Nani made a clearance and the Europeans survived. Michael Bradley then had a shot at the Portuguese goal dragged off target and the score line remained unchanged. In the 32^nd minute another positive move from the CONCACAF team saw Johnson’s effort go just off target. Another shot from Jones in the 35^th was carefully handled by the Portuguese goalkeeper. In the 42^nd minute Portugal won a free kick but Ronaldo blasted his effort over the bar. Tim Howard then came to the Americans’ rescue as he was forced to save Nani’s blistering effort to keep the score at 1-0. At the half, that was the way it stayed.

            At the resumption William came off the Portuguese bench to replace Almeida. Ronaldo soon had a chance to double Portugal’s lead but Beckerman blocked the shot. In the 48^th the Americans forced a corner but the Portuguese defense cleared. Portugal would soon have a corner of their own but couldn’t take advantage. In the 55^th minute the U.S. had a good chance to level the match but Ricardo Costa cleared Bradley’s effort and the score line remained unchanged. In the 62^nd minute a quick Portuguese counter-attack after some American pressure enabled Ronaldo a golden opportunity but it was squandered. He would soon regret that though, as Jermaine Jones took a ball past Nani and unleashed a swerving shot that was never going to be stopped. The scores were now level and the Americans were now looking promising. In the 69^th the Portuguese made a substitution as Varela replaced Meireles. The Americans would then make a change of their own as Yedlin replaced Bedoya in the 72^nd minute. Jermaine Jones of the U.S. would soon find himself in the referee’s book for a late challenge.

            It wouldn’t take long for the Americans to gain the lead though. A Yedlin cross found Bradley and he passed to Zusi who played a ball to Dempsey in the middle and the American captain made no mistake. 2-1 USA in the 81^st minute and the Portuguese were on the brink of elimination.  Klinnsman would then make a change in an attempt to run down the clock as Gonzalez replaced Zusi in the 91^st minute. There was more drama to come though, as an incredible cross from Ronaldo would find an unmarked Varela whose perfect header rescued Portugal from certain elimination.