Portugal 0-0 USA: World champions USA make it to the round of 16

Defending champions USA endured a major scare against debutants at the Women’s World Cup Portugal before progressing to the round of 16.

Still lacking a chance at the tournament, the Stars and Stripes suffered another frustrating draw after drawing against the Netherlands in their last game, casting doubt on their hopes of winning the tournament for an unprecedented third straight season.

Portugal, who would have caused one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition if they won, hit the post in the 91st minute through Ana Capeta.

In the end, the USA were relieved when they heard the final whistle, the point being enough to level them in runners-up against the Netherlands. who defeated Vietnam 7-0.

However, the United States were once again far from their best as they struggled to break through a weak Portuguese defense while goalkeeper Ines Pereira made two superb saves to parry recalled striker Lynn Williams.

The world no 10 gives -goal swing.

In a bitterly frustrating evening for the four-time world champions in Auckland, midfielder Rose Lavelle has been booked and will miss the next game after her second booking of the tournament.

The US fails to impress

USA went into this tournament as favorites to win but failed to impress in front of the thousands of fans who had traveled to New Zealand.

They end the group stage with five points – two behind the Netherlands – and wonder why they look like a shadow of the side that took over the world in 2015 and 2019.

After missing numerous chances in a 3-0 opening win against debutants Vietnam, the USA were defeated by the Netherlands in a repeat of the final four years ago.

Coach Vlatko Andonovski had named the same starting XI in the first two games but opted for two changes as Lavelle, who recently recovered from a knee injury, came on after coming on as a substitute and Lindsey Horan equalized to equalize against the Netherlands prepared .

Forward Williams also got her first taste of this World Cup when Savannah DeMelo and Trinity Rodman dropped out.

But the changes didn’t delight the USA, who failed to score in a World Cup game for the first time since losing 0-0 to Sweden in 2015.

Portugal’s Ana Capeta hits the post against the USA in the 91st minute

Portugal retires with their heads held high

Portugal, third in the group, a point adrift of the USA, exited the competition with their heads held high after nearly causing a huge shock.

They played 13 games – 10 group games and three play-offs – to reach their first World Cup and only secured a spot in February with a 2-1 win over Cameroon.

After narrowly losing to the Netherlands in their first group match, Francisco Neto’s side secured a historic first victory on the world stage as Telma Encarnacao and exciting young talent Francisca Nazareth defeated Vietnam 2-0.

The fact that Portugal went into the third group game and still had a chance to qualify for the knockout stages is seen as progress.

Against the USA they were strong defensively and quick on the break, with Jessica Silva squandering a big chance in the first half before Nazareth came close.

The fourth official had just indicated that there were at least eight minutes left when substitute Capeta hit the post.

“When Ana shot, I thought it was a goal,” said Neto.

“What I said to the girls is that I am very proud. Of course they are very sad because we are going home tomorrow.”

“What this World Cup shows now is that women’s football is growing a lot and all the teams are great. That is why you achieved this result.”

“Before the World Cup, nobody believed that such a result would come about.”

player of the game

Joana MarchaoJoana Marchao

Portugal

1. squad number5player nameJoana Marchao

2. squad number21player nameAna Capeta

3. squad number20player nameKika Nazareth

4. squad number16player nameDiana Silva

5. squad number8thplayer nameAndrea Norton

6. squad number14player nameDolores Silva

7. squad number2player nameCatherine Amado

8. squad number11player nameTatiana Pinto

9. squad number15player nameCaroleCosta

10. squad number9player nameAna Borges

11. squad number19player nameDiana Gomes

12. squad number23player nameTelma Encarnacao

13. squad number10player nameJessica Silva

14. squad number6player nameAndrea Jacinto

15. squad number1player nameInes Pereira

USA

1. squad number13player namemorgan

2. squad number5player nameO’Hara

3. squad number1player nameCloser

4. squad number11player nameblacksmith

5. squad number20player namerodman

6. squad number4player namebulk goods

7. squad number8thplayer nameerz

8. squad number23player nameFox

9. squad number16player namelavelle

10. squad number10player nameHoran

11. squad number6player nameWilliams

12. squad number19player nameThin

13. squad number17player nameSullivan

14. squad number14player nameSo nice

15. squad number7player nameThompson

16. squad number15player nameRapinoe

lineups

Portugal

formation 4-1-2-1-2

1Teixeira Pereira

9Marques Borges19Ribeiro Gomes15da Silva Costa2Silva Amado

14Jacome da Silva

11Ferreira Pinto8thNorton

20Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth Sousa

16Abreu de Sousa e Silva10Manjenje Nogueira Silva

• 1Teixeira Pereira
• 9Marques Borges
• 19Ribeiro GomesBooked for 72 minutes
• 15da Silva CostaBooked for 56 minutes
• 2Silva AmadoBooked for 85 minutesReplaced byGaspar Silva Marchaoat 89′protocol
• 14Jacome da Silva
• 11Ferreira Pinto
• 8thNortonReplaced byVelosa Encarnacaoat 81′protocol
• 20Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth SousaReplaced byby Jesus Jacinoat 62′protocol
• 16Abreu de Sousa e SilvaReplaced byPalma Capetaat 90′protocol
• 10Manjenje Nogueira Silva

Substitute

• 3by Sousa Alves
• 4García Rebelo
• 5Gaspar Silva Marchao
• 6by Jesus Jacino
• 7Santos Marques Rodrigues
• 12by Sousa Barros Morais
• 13Figueira Pinto
• 17da Silva Seica
• 18Trinidad Coruche Mendes
• 21Palma Capeta
• 22fields coast
• 23Velosa Encarnacao

USA

formation 4-3-3

1Closer

23Fox8therz4bulk goods19Thin

16lavelle17Sullivan10Horan

6Williams13morgan11blacksmith

• 1Closer
• 23Fox
• 8therz
• 4bulk goodsBooked for 81 minutes
• 19ThinReplaced byO’Haraat 90+7′protocol
• 16lavelleBooked for 39 minutes
• 17Sullivan
• 10HoranReplaced bySo niceat 84′protocol
• 6WilliamsReplaced byrodmanat 84′protocol
• 13morganReplaced byThompsonat 90+7′protocol
• 11blacksmithBooked for 52 minutesReplaced byRapinoeat 61′protocol

Substitute

• 2sanchez
• 3Huerta
• 5O’Hara
• 7Thompson
• 9DeMelo
• 12Cook
• 14So nice
• 15Rapinoe
• 18Murphy
• 20rodman
• 21Kingsbury
• 22Mewis

Referee: Rebecca Welch

Number of visitors: 40,958

live text

1. The game ends: Portugal 0, USA 0.

2. The second half ends, Portugal 0, USA 0.

3. Substitution USA. Alyssa Thompson replaces Alex Morgan.

4. Substitution USA. Kelley O’Hara replaces Crystal Dunn.

5. attempt failed. Megan Rapinoe (USA) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alex Morgan with a header.

6. Ana Capeta (Portugal) wins a free kick on the left wing.

8. attempt failed. Alex Morgan (USA) right footed shot from the center of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Megan Rapinoe with a cross.

9. attempt failed. Andreia Jacinto (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.

10. Ana Capeta (Portugal) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the center of the box. Assisted by Telma Encarnação with a through ball.

11. attempt failed. Alex Morgan (USA) left footed shot from the left side of the box goes up and wide to the left. Assisted by Megan Rapinoe with a through ball.

12. Substitution Portugal. Ana Capeta replaces Diana Silva.

13. Substitution Portugal. Joana Marchao replaces Catarina Amado.

14. delay over. You are ready to move on.

15. Game delay due to injury to Inês Pereira (Portugal).

16. Inês Pereira (Portugal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

17. Foul by Emily Sonnett (USA).

18. Corner, United States. Goal conceded by Catarina Amado.

19. Catarina Amado (Portugal) is yellow carded for a bad foul.

20. Foul by Catarina Amado (Portugal).