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Nani scores for Portugal. Paulo Duarte
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: USA v Portugal, World Cup Group G

After they were hammered by the Germans, Portugal need a win but face a solid American outfit tonight.

IT’S THE MEETING of the US and Portugal in the Arena da Amazonia. 

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail ben@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_iepost a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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USA 2-2 Portugal

Howdy, soccer balls fans! Last night’s 2-2 draw between Germany and Ghana means the US could be sitting top of Group G with a win over Portugal tonight.

John Brooks’ 86th-minute goal handed Jurgen Klinsmann’s side a 2-1 victory against Ghana while Portugal were humbled by the Germans — losing 4-0 after Pepe was sent off.

I see some of you have already been getting your predictions in below, but why not take our poll and let us know how you think this game will go.


Poll Results:

Draw (513)
Portugal win (480)
USA win (272)

Teams? Here you are:

USA: Howard, Bradley, Besler, Beasley, Dempsey, Bedoya, Jones, Beckerman, Zusi, Cameron, Johnson.

Portugal: Beto, Bruno Alves, Veloso, Ronaldo, Moutinho, Costa, Meireles, Nani, A. Almeida, Pereira, Postiga.

Struggling to get in the mood for the game? The official song for the US team for Italia ’90 should help:

RareNightTracks / YouTube

Here come the teams.

The US, in all-white, kick off with Portugal in their traditional red.

US kick off RTE Player RTE Player

GOAL! USA 0-1 Portugal (Nani 5′)

What a start for the Portuguese. A wild swipe by Stoke defender Geoff Cameron gifts Nani possession and the Manchester United winger smashes home from close range.

Terrible defending from Cameron.
https://vine.co/v/MTLdx9tDzzJ

Fabian Johnson is picked out by Jermaine Jones and the full-back earns the US a corner. It’s cleared, however.

Ronaldo looks up for this tonight.

Free-kick to the US after Jones is brought down 20 yards out from goal. Clint Dempsey to take but he shoots over.

Kyle Beckerman hits Raul Meireles with a heavy challenge then Meireles, quite embarrassingly, goes down holding his face.

There’s an early blow for Portugal as striker Helder Postiga is injured and has just come off for Eder.

The Americans have been well in this during the last few minutes. Clint Dempsey comes close with a couple of efforts before Michael Bradley shoots over from distance.

They may be ahead but Portugal are playing particularly well at all. The US, on the other hand, are steadily growing in confidence and Bradley’s latest attempt on goal goes just outside the post.

Dempsey breaks and plays a pass out wide to Johnson, who cuts in onto his left foot and drives a shot a few yards wide.

Miguel Velosa tries his luck from long range but it takes a deflection and the flag goes up for offside.

You’ve got to love Brian Kerr’s unique style of commentating.

Water break. Get those fluids on board, lads.

Water Break RTE Player RTE Player

Portugal break forward in numbers with Ronaldo in possession. He finds Nani with a superb pass and Howard gets down well to block the shot. When the ball comes back out, Nani is fouled but Ronaldo then balloons the free-kick well over.

DRAMA! Nani’s strike hits the post and Eder follows up rebound. Tim Howard, already on the move, does unbelievably well to readjust his position and tip the shot away.

Half-time: USA 0-1 Portugal 

What. A. Save.

The second half is underway. Portugal’s Andre Almeida is off with William Carvalho coming on in his place.

Ronaldo has a shot blocked then Eder’s acrobatic volley is off-target moments later.

That’s an incredible block from Ricardo Costa, who gets back on the goal line to keep out Fabian Johnson.

Superb.

That’s really poor from Ronaldo. He finds some room on the right and, with Nani inside, opts to shoot… but gets it horribly wrong and watches the ball sail into the crowd.

GOAL! USA 1-1 Portugal (Jermaine Jones 65′)

That’s a cracking strike, in fairness.

Couldn’t have described it better myself.

Meireles controls on the chest and fires a volley at goal but Howard gets down to block. That’s the midfielder’s last action as he has been withdrawn with Nelson Varela taking his place.

Goalscorer Jones is the first man to pick up a yellow card after bringing down Moutinho.

DeAndre Yedlin of the Seattle Sounders is on for Bedoya.

GOAL! USA 2-1 Portugal (Clint Dempsey 81′)

They’re in front and well-deservedly so. It’s well -worked on the right, a clearance falls to Bradley, whose shot is deflected into the path of Graham Wusi and he crosses to Dempsey.

In off the stomach.
https://vine.co/v/MTlOxFKTDlW

Just five minutes of added time and the US are in line for one of their biggest ever wins.

Omar Gonzalez of LA Galaxy takes Zusi’s place for the final moments.

GOAL! USA 2-2 Portugal (Nelson Varela 92′)

Right at the death, Ronaldo puts in a perfect cross for Varela who heads past Howard. Cruel on the US.

Tremendous ball and a good run to get onto the end of it but awful defending.
https://vine.co/v/MTl19W7jtqI

Full-time: USA 2-2 Portugal

Algeria and South Korea serve up six-goal thriller

Tough luck Portugal, Captain Picard is cheering on the USA tonight

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