The USWNT had the post to thank as they somehow drew 0-0 against Portugal as the reigning World Cup champs squeaked into the last 16 as Group E runners up.
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Portugal almost won the game in the 92nd minute as Ana Capeta hit the post as a winner for the Portuguese would have sent them through to the last 16 and knocked the USWNT out at the group stage for the first time ever in a World Cup.
Instead the USA held on for a draw which sets up a last 16 clash against the Group G winners (almost certainly Sweden) on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia. Due to their poor performance at the group stage, the USWNT’s path towards glory just got a lot tougher in the knockout rounds as they finished second on five points.
The Netherlands finished atop Group E on seven points thanks to their 7-0 win over Vietnam in the other Group E finale, while Portugal finished third as the World Cup debutants battled valiantly but finished one point behind the USWNT.
How much further can the USWNT go at this World Cup?
Not much further is the answer based on their displays so far. With Sweden set to come next, plus a potential clash with Japan in the quarterfinal and maybe the Netherlands or Spain in the semifinal (let’s go one step at a time here...), the USWNT now have a much tougher path if they are to become the first team in history to win three-straight World Cups.
This is still a very young side with several World Cup debutants and that suggests this team will get better the longer the tournament goes on.
But an uninspiring display at Eden Park against Portugal will fuel fears that this USWNT side isn’t capable of getting anywhere near winning a third-straight World Cup as Portugal dominated possession for most of the game and the USA struggled to create chances and lacked any kind of fluidity. They will also be missing influential midfielder Rose Lavelle for the last 16 clash due to yellow card accumulation, which is another big blow for Vlatko Andonovski as pressure continues to build on him.
This draw marked the first time since 2015 that the USWNT failed to score a goal in a World Cup game, while they have now failed to win in two-straight World Cup games for just the second time in their illustrious history. There is an ‘end of an era’ feel about this USWNT squad but every single time we’ve written them off in the past they’ve bounced back with a vengeance. Let’s see if that post being struck snaps them back into life. The talent is there but the confidence, fluidity and sharpness is not.
Watch USWNT vs Portugal full match replay
Kickoff: 3 am ET, Tuesday
How to watch in English: Fox
How to watch en Español: Telemundo/Women’s World Cup on Peacock
USWNT schedule - 2023 Women’s World Cup group stage
W 3-0 Vietnam -- July 22, 9 pm ET -- Eden Park, Auckland
D 1-1 Netherlands -- July 27, 9 pm ET -- Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
D 0-0 Portugal -- Aug. 1, 3 am ET -- Eden Park, Auckland
vs. TBD — Aug. 6, 5 am ET — Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
Alex Morgan has been speaking after the game:
“It is tough to be second, we wanted to go through first. This team gave everything. We just couldn’t put the ball in the beck of the net. In the last few minutes we just had to hold it down, get the result and move on. Now we look forward. Players came in and really helped that starting squad. We had so many gamechangers coming in and making a difference. It is not the result we wanted but we move forward,” Morgan said.
“It is just not going in the back of the net. We have so many corners, so many opportunities. We got the crosses in. Just unlucky. Just following through with shots and chances, making the right decisions in front of goal, so all of that combined.”
That was not pretty but the USWNT are through to the last 16 of the World Cup.
They will likely face Sweden in Melbourne on Sunday (5am ET kick off) but there is a lot of pressure building on Vlatko Andonovski and his players.
Portugal hit the post in the 92nd minute! Ana Capeta is clean through and drills a low shot which smacks the post and comes out.
Was that the chance!?
USWNT inches away from being knocked out of the World Cup at the group stage. Incredible drama. The entire Portuguese team thought that was in. Naeher was totally beaten. Wow.
¡Se salvó el "Team USA" 😱!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) August 1, 2023
🥅 Ana Capeta estrelló su disparo en el poste y estuvo a punto de dar la sorpresa de la @FIFAWWC.#POR 0-0 @USWNT 🇺🇸
📺 @Telemundo y @peacock ➡ https://t.co/kWnYCuRFwZ#MundialTelemundo #LaCopaEsNuestra #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/mtC4DLBj24
Portugal are taking more chances now as they have to win to go through to the last 16. A draw is no good for them.
USWNT dropping a little deeper and a free kick into the box results in Naeher dropping the ball but recovering it. This is all getting way too nervy now...
¡Se salvó el "Team USA"😱!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) August 1, 2023
🧤 @AlyssaNaeher soltó el balón pero afortunadamente no había un rival para empujar el balón.#POR 0-0 @USWNT 🇺🇸
📺 @Telemundo y @peacock ➡ https://t.co/kWnYCuRFwZ#MundialTelemundo #LaCopaEsNuestra #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/ZsDIDO6mpv
A huge roar from the Eden Park crowd as USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe comes off the bench. She replaces Sophia Smith.
Can Rapinoe use all of her experience to make sure the USWNT at least get the draw they need to reach the last 16?
Much better from the USWNT. Horan intercepts a loose pass and plays in Morgan who rounds the goalkeeper but Portugal clear easily. That’s more like it.
The second half is underway and alarm bells are ringing out at Eden Park... and that is not just for the USWNT.
Several reporters also revealed there is a message to fans in the stadium telling them to evacuate. The game went on as normal and then we get word it was a false alarm.
It's a false alarm, FIFA and U.S. Soccer spokespeople now say. A malfunctioning sprinkler.#USA #POR #FIFAWWC #BeyondGreatness
— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) August 1, 2023
There is a literal fire alarm going off here at Eden Park, and an announcement telling fans to evacuate
— Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) August 1, 2023
Oh man, that was a rough half for the USWNT. Lynn Williams had a couple of chances, one really good one right on half time after a corner was half cleared, but that was about it.
Portugal dominated the ball, were very patient building up from the back and had a couple of chances themselves.
All to play for in the second half in Auckland and remember: if Portugal win this then they go through and the USWNT will crash out at the group stage for the first time in World Cup history.
This is all getting way too nervous for the USA.
Danielle van de Donk added a fifth goal just before the break and the Netherlands are well on their way to winning the group.
As it stands, the Dutch have seven points to the USWNT’s five and they also have a three goal lead on the USWNT in terms of goal difference.
Rose Lavelle booked for a very late challenge and that means she is out of any potential last 16 game for yellow card accumulation. Huge blow for the USWNT. That was quite silly from Lavelle considering she had picked up a yellow against the Netherlands.
Alex Morgan runs down the left, just about keeps the ball in and her cut back is deflected towards goal but Portugal’s goalkeeper Ines Pereira saves superbly, then denies Lynn Williams on the rebound and then Williams puts another rebound over the bar from close range. That is the best chance so far for the USWNT and it all come from Morgan’s burst off the left.
The Dutch are running riot in Dunedin as Esmee Brugts and Jill Roord both score, the former curled home an absolute beauty.
As things stand (see, I told you!) the Dutch are on +5 GD with the USWNT on +3.
Second place for the USWNT will see them get a much trickier draw in the knockout rounds.
A lovely through ball carves open the USWNT defense but Jessica Silva drags her shot wide. Portugal looking very slick on the ball.
USA have yet to get going in Auckland. A very nervous start from the defending champs and Portugal are dictating the tempo of this game.
¡La que se perdió Portugal😱!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) August 1, 2023
Jessica Silva tuvo la oportunidad de dar la sorpresa, pero su disparo fue muy desvíado.#POR 0-0 @USWNT 🇺🇸
📺 @Telemundo y @peacock ➡ https://t.co/kWnYCuRFwZ#MundialTelemundo #LaCopaEsNuestra #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/3ukH5cw8dz
Lieke Martens and Katja Snoeijs have put the Dutch 2-0 up against Vietnam early on in Dunedin and that means they are top of Group E.
As things stand (there could be a lot of that today!) the USWNT are in second place.
Rose Lavelle and Lynn Williams start for the USWNT as Vlatko Andonovski makes a couple of big changes. Intrigued to see how this works.
The XI in Auckland 🇺🇸#USWNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/s189ve123O
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) August 1, 2023
