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| Silvestre Varela saves Portugal with goal in dying seconds against USA | Silvestre Varela saves Portugal with goal in dying seconds against USA |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| No team have yet lost their lives in this World Cup’s group of death but Portugal are on life support. Paulo Bento said before Sunday’s game against USA that anything less than a win would spell the end for his side on account of their minus-four goal difference. In the event they needed a goal in the final minute of second-half injury time just to avoid a defeat against a USA team that continue to exceed all expectations. | No team have yet lost their lives in this World Cup’s group of death but Portugal are on life support. Paulo Bento said before Sunday’s game against USA that anything less than a win would spell the end for his side on account of their minus-four goal difference. In the event they needed a goal in the final minute of second-half injury time just to avoid a defeat against a USA team that continue to exceed all expectations. |
| Down by a goal after four minutes at Manaus’s Arena Amazônia, the Americans responded with the same stubborn spirit of defiance that they had shown in recovering from a late equaliser to triumph in their opening game against Ghana. Goals from Jermaine Jones and Clint Dempsey put them ahead with less than 10 minutes to play. But Silvestre Varela’s 95th-minute header, from Cristiano Ronaldo’s perfect cross, denied the Americans a victory that would have moved them to the top of Group G. Germany and USA have four points and meet in the final round of group games when a draw would be enough to send both teams through. Portugal and Ghana have one point each. | |
| Both coaches agreed in the build-up to the game that Portugal were not a one-man team. Try telling that to the crowd at the Arena Amazônia, large sections of whom roared with delight every time Ronaldo came into possession. | |
| But it was not the Real Madrid player who opened his nation’s account at this tournament; instead it was a former club team-mate. Nani indifferent form had been a hot topic of discussion here in Brazil but he found himself in the right place at the right time to capitalise on a horrendous mistake by USA’s Geoff Cameron. | But it was not the Real Madrid player who opened his nation’s account at this tournament; instead it was a former club team-mate. Nani indifferent form had been a hot topic of discussion here in Brazil but he found himself in the right place at the right time to capitalise on a horrendous mistake by USA’s Geoff Cameron. |
| In trying to clear a cross from the left, the centre-back somehow contrived to slice the ball over his own head and into the path of the Manchester United forward. Nani sat Tim Howard down with a shimmy before crashing his shot into the roof of the net. | In trying to clear a cross from the left, the centre-back somehow contrived to slice the ball over his own head and into the path of the Manchester United forward. Nani sat Tim Howard down with a shimmy before crashing his shot into the roof of the net. |
| A worse start for USA would have been hard to imagine. But just as they had retreated into themselves in the wake of Dempsey’s early strike in their opening match against Ghana, so Portugal seemed to lose their nerve in the face of such early success. Bento’s team withdrew into defensive positions and Jürgen Klinsmann’s side flooded forward to meet them. | A worse start for USA would have been hard to imagine. But just as they had retreated into themselves in the wake of Dempsey’s early strike in their opening match against Ghana, so Portugal seemed to lose their nerve in the face of such early success. Bento’s team withdrew into defensive positions and Jürgen Klinsmann’s side flooded forward to meet them. |
| Fabian Johnson led the charge, rushing at the inexperienced André Almeida down USA’s right flank. First the full-back saw a shot blocked behind by Bruno Alves and then he was chopped down by the same defender on the edge of the Portuguese box. Dempsey’s free-kick kissed the roof of the net after barely clearing the crossbar. | Fabian Johnson led the charge, rushing at the inexperienced André Almeida down USA’s right flank. First the full-back saw a shot blocked behind by Bruno Alves and then he was chopped down by the same defender on the edge of the Portuguese box. Dempsey’s free-kick kissed the roof of the net after barely clearing the crossbar. |
| USA continued to make inroads. Beto – a late replacement for the injured Rui Patricio in the Portuguese goal – pushed away a near-post effort from Dempsey and then watched helplessly as the same player lifted a chipped shot just over from the ensuing corner. Michael Bradley had a vicious drive charged down, and then fizzed another just wide of the far post from the left. | USA continued to make inroads. Beto – a late replacement for the injured Rui Patricio in the Portuguese goal – pushed away a near-post effort from Dempsey and then watched helplessly as the same player lifted a chipped shot just over from the ensuing corner. Michael Bradley had a vicious drive charged down, and then fizzed another just wide of the far post from the left. |
| But it was Portugal who nearly extended their lead on the stroke of half-time, Nani wrong-footing Howard from the edge of the area only to see his shot ping back off the post. The Portuguese was first to the rebound and sent a lofted follow-up goalwards but this time the goalkeeper was equal to it, springing up with startling speed to paw the ball away. | But it was Portugal who nearly extended their lead on the stroke of half-time, Nani wrong-footing Howard from the edge of the area only to see his shot ping back off the post. The Portuguese was first to the rebound and sent a lofted follow-up goalwards but this time the goalkeeper was equal to it, springing up with startling speed to paw the ball away. |
| It was a world-class save, and also an essential one to preserving American hopes in this game. Portugal withdrew Almeida at the interval, sending on William Carvalho in midfield and moving Miguel Veloso out to left-back. If Bento’s intention was to subdue Johnson’s assaults down the right, then he had failed. Only a desperate goal-line block from Ricardo Costa prevented Michael Bradley from equalising after the American full-back had beaten his man and drawn Beto out of position with another brilliant run. | It was a world-class save, and also an essential one to preserving American hopes in this game. Portugal withdrew Almeida at the interval, sending on William Carvalho in midfield and moving Miguel Veloso out to left-back. If Bento’s intention was to subdue Johnson’s assaults down the right, then he had failed. Only a desperate goal-line block from Ricardo Costa prevented Michael Bradley from equalising after the American full-back had beaten his man and drawn Beto out of position with another brilliant run. |
| For Portugal this was nothing more than a stay of execution. In the 64th minute USA drew level with a spectacular goal from Jones. Seizing on a half-cleared corner just outside the edge of the D, the midfielder opened his body out on the right before unleashing a violent shot that curled just inside Beto’s left-hand upright. | For Portugal this was nothing more than a stay of execution. In the 64th minute USA drew level with a spectacular goal from Jones. Seizing on a half-cleared corner just outside the edge of the D, the midfielder opened his body out on the right before unleashing a violent shot that curled just inside Beto’s left-hand upright. |
| That was just the beginning. With nine minutes remaining Dempsey arrived to bundle a Graham Zusi cross over the goalline. But then came Varela’s equaliser. The grim reaper will have to wait a little while longer. | That was just the beginning. With nine minutes remaining Dempsey arrived to bundle a Graham Zusi cross over the goalline. But then came Varela’s equaliser. The grim reaper will have to wait a little while longer. |