Defending champions the USA suffered a huge scare against Women’s World Cup debutants Portugal before scraping through to the last 16.
The Stars and Stripes are yet to fire at the tournament and, after being held by the Netherlands in their previous match, suffered another frustrating draw that raised questions about their hopes of winning the tournament for an unprecedented third time in a row.
Portugal, who would have caused one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history had they won, hit the post through Ana Capeta in the 91st minute.
In the end the USA were relieved to hear the full-time whistle, the point enough to take them through as runners-up to the Netherlands, who thrashed Vietnam 7-0.
However, the United States were once again far from their best as they struggled to break down a gritty Portugal defence, while keeper Ines Pereira produced two fine saves to deny recalled forward Lynn Williams.
The world’s number one side will now face the winners of Group G, which will be decided on Wednesday with Sweden – the last nation to defeat the USA in a 90-minute game at the World Cup – set to finish top unless there is a 10-goal swing.
On a bitterly frustrating night for the four-time world champions in Auckland, midfielder Rose Lavelle was booked and will miss the next game after her second caution of the tournament.
More to follow.
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Portugal
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Squad number1Player nameInês Pereira
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Squad number9Player nameAna Borges
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Squad number19Player nameDiana Gomes
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Squad number15Player nameCarole Costa
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Squad number2Player nameCatarina Amado
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Squad number14Player nameDolores Silva
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Squad number11Player nameTatiana Pinto
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Squad number8Player nameAndreia Norton
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Squad number20Player nameKika Nazareth
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Squad number16Player nameDiana Silva
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Squad number10Player nameJéssica Silva
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Squad number5Player nameJoana Marchão
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Squad number6Player nameAndreia Jacinto
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Squad number21Player nameAna Capeta
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Squad number23Player nameTelma Encarnação
USA
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Squad number1Player nameNaeher
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Squad number23Player nameFox
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Squad number8Player nameErtz
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Squad number4Player nameGirma
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Squad number19Player nameDunn
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Squad number16Player nameLavelle
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Squad number17Player nameSullivan
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Squad number10Player nameHoran
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Squad number6Player nameWilliams
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Squad number13Player nameMorgan
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Squad number11Player nameSmith
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Squad number5Player nameO’Hara
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Squad number7Player nameThompson
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Squad number14Player nameSonnett
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Squad number15Player nameRapinoe
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Squad number20Player nameRodman
Line-ups
Portugal
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Teixeira Pereira
- 9Marques Borges
- 19Ribeiro GomesBooked at 72mins
- 15da Silva CostaBooked at 56mins
- 2Silva AmadoBooked at 85minsSubstituted forGaspar Silva Marchãoat 89′minutes
- 14Jácome da Silva
- 11Ferreira Pinto
- 8NortonSubstituted forVelosa Encarnaçãoat 81′minutes
- 20Ramos Ribeiro Nazareth SousaSubstituted forde Jesus Jacintoat 62′minutes
- 16Abreu de Sousa e SilvaSubstituted forPalma Capetaat 90′minutes
- 10Manjenje Nogueira Silva
Substitutes
- 3de Sousa Alves
- 4Garcia Rebelo
- 5Gaspar Silva Marchão
- 6de Jesus Jacinto
- 7Santos Marques Rodrigues
- 12de Sousa Barros Morais
- 13Figueira Pinto
- 17da Silva Seiça
- 18Trindade Coruche Mendes
- 21Palma Capeta
- 22Campos Costa
- 23Velosa Encarnação
USA
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Naeher
- 23Fox
- 8Ertz
- 4GirmaBooked at 81mins
- 19DunnSubstituted forO’Haraat 90+7′minutes
- 16LavelleBooked at 39mins
- 17Sullivan
- 10HoranSubstituted forSonnettat 84′minutes
- 6WilliamsSubstituted forRodmanat 84′minutes
- 13MorganSubstituted forThompsonat 90+7′minutes
- 11SmithBooked at 52minsSubstituted forRapinoeat 61′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Sanchez
- 3Huerta
- 5O’Hara
- 7Thompson
- 9DeMelo
- 12Cook
- 14Sonnett
- 15Rapinoe
- 18Murphy
- 20Rodman
- 21Kingsbury
- 22Mewis
- Referee:
- Rebecca Welch
- Attendance:
- 40,958
Live Text
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Match ends, Portugal 0, USA 0.
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Second Half ends, Portugal 0, USA 0.
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Substitution, USA. Alyssa Thompson replaces Alex Morgan.
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Substitution, USA. Kelley O’Hara replaces Crystal Dunn.
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Attempt missed. Megan Rapinoe (USA) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alex Morgan with a headed pass.
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Ana Capeta (Portugal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt missed. Alex Morgan (USA) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Megan Rapinoe with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Andreia Jacinto (Portugal) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
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Ana Capeta (Portugal) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Telma Encarnação with a through ball.
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Attempt missed. Alex Morgan (USA) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Megan Rapinoe with a through ball.
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Substitution, Portugal. Ana Capeta replaces Diana Silva.
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Substitution, Portugal. Joana Marchão replaces Catarina Amado.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Inês Pereira (Portugal).
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Inês Pereira (Portugal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Emily Sonnett (USA).
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Corner, USA. Conceded by Catarina Amado.
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Catarina Amado (Portugal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Catarina Amado (Portugal).
