30 seconds away from Victory!

 

United States soccer team were just 30 seconds away from a historic win against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Brazil on Sunday night that would have booked their place in the last 16 of the World Cup.


The Americans were about to walk off with their first come-from-behind win at soccer's showcase. About to advance with a game to spare. About to win consecutive World Cup games for the first time since 1930. But they wilted in the Amazon heat and humidity.

Varela's goal on a diving header off Cristiano Ronaldo's cross on the game's last play gave Portugal a 2-2 tie Sunday on an exhausting night in the rainforest capital.

A screaming, pro-American majority in the crowd of 40,123 was ready to party late into the steamy night.

'It was unfortunate,' U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said, 'An amazing game, amazing performance by our guys. Nothing more that you can ask for. We just go it the tougher way. We've got to go and we've got to beat Germany, get a result against Germany, and that's what we're going to do.'

Cristiano Ronaldo set up Varela for his late equalizer on a hot and humid night in the jungle on Sunday to give Portugal a 2-2 draw with the United States.

Clint Dempsey, playing with a broken nose, then put the Americans ahead in the 81st. The United States captain used his stomach to direct the ball into the net from a cross by Zusi.

The last-second draw denied the Americans a spot in the second round, but it kept Portugal alive in the tournament.

The United States now has four points in Group G, the same as Germany. Both Portugal and Ghana have one point. 

‘Obviously we're disappointed, but at the end of the day you've got to look at the positives, we got a point,’ Dempsey said. ‘It's going down to the last game and hopefully we get the job done.’

The United States now has four points in Group G, the same as Germany. Both Portugal and Ghana have one point. The Americans will face Germany on Thursday in Recife, while Portugal takes on Ghana at the same time in Brasilia.