USA vs Portugal 0-0: Women’s World Cup 2023 – as it happened
All the updates from the final Group E clash between the USA and Portugal at Eden Park in Auckland.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates from the Portugal vs USA Women’s World Cup match on Tuesday, August 1.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates from the Portugal vs USA Women’s World Cup match on Tuesday, August 1.
- Holders the United States survived a late scare against Portugal to draw 0-0 and limp into the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup in their third and final Group E match.
- The US will likely face Sweden in the next round after finishing second in the group.
- The Netherlands topped the group after a 7-0 demolition of Vietnam, while Portugal were knocked out.
- FIFA rankings: USA 1, Portugal 21.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
That’s a wrap!
We almost witnessed one of the greatest shocks in World Cup history in Auckland as the post saved the USA from the humiliation of exiting the tournament in the group stages.
But the world champions survived an almighty scare and progress in the tournament.
The Netherlands will join them in the last 16 after annihilating Vietnam 7-0.
There are two games remaining today as Group D comes to a close. We’ll have live coverage as England look to secure qualification against China in Adelaide.
An unwelcome stat for the USA
Five points marks the USA’s worst ever group stage performance at the Women’s World Cup.
After easing past Vietnam in their opening match, they drew with the Netherlands and Portugal.
They’ll play the winners of Group G in their last 16 match. As it stands, that will most likely mean a huge clash with Sweden in Melbourne.
The USA will need to vastly improve for that one.
The reigning champs are through to the Round of 16! 🇺🇸@USWNT | #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/aS7ONQotEz
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 1, 2023
Andonovski speaks after the match
Vlatko Andonovski has also been trying to explain why the USA are struggling to take their chances:
“Obviously it’s a fairly new team, look at the players on the field,” he said.
“The more time we spend together, the more of those chances we are going to take”.
The final standings for Group E 📊 pic.twitter.com/vzZ5f11oVu
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) August 1, 2023
‘It’s tough to be second’
USA forward Alex Morgan has been speaking in Auckland:
“It’s tough to be second, we wanted to go through first. This team gave everything. In the last few minutes we had to get the result and now we move on and we look forward.
“The players who came in really helped the starting squad but it’s not the result we wanted.”
She was also asked why the USA are struggling to score goals:
“It’s just not going into the next. We have so many corners, so many opportunities, we get crosses in but it’s just unlucky.
“It was a very physical game, the players ran a lot this game and put their bodies on the line”.
Right down to the wire. 🤏#USA hold on to secure #FIFAWWC progression!
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 1, 2023
Group E concludes
The Netherlands’ thumping 7-0 win over Vietnam in Dunedin ensures that they top Group E with seven points.
The USA finish second after clinging on for a goalless draw with Portugal. They end the group on five points.
Portugal finish third, with Vietnam propping up the table on zero points.
A mesmerising display from @OranjeVrouwen! ✨#BeyondGreatness | #FIFAWWC
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 1, 2023
A point sends us through to the Round of 16.
Next stop: Melbourne#USWNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/0j3pNVmdOW
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) August 1, 2023
Full-time
That’s it. The USA have qualified for the last 16, but it was desperately close.
Portugal were the width of a post away from a place in the knockout stages. Their players are devastated.
Full-time: Portugal 0-0 USA
Into the final minute
The USA try to keep the ball to kill time at the end of this one.
The world champions will be desperate for the full-time whistle.
90+8 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Two late changes for the USA
Off: Dunn, Morgan
On: O’Hara, Thompson
90+6 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
USA clinging on
Another chance for Portugal!
Marchao hoists a free kick into the box from long range. Naeher comes out to claim it but she was nowhere near catching the ball.
Luckily for the USA the ball evades everyone and goes behind for a goal kick. The world champions are clinging on.
90+5 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Another chance for Morgan
Rapinoe finds herself in space on the edge of the Portugal box.
She curls the ball into a central area and it finds Morgan but she’s unable to direct an effort towards goal.
The stadium is still stunned by that chance for Portugal.
90+3 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Portugal hit the post!
Portugal hit the post!
Ana Capeta has absolutely drilled a shot into the right-hand post. She latched on to a forward ball just minutes after coming on.
Naeher was completely beaten.
90+1 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
More changes for Portugal
Off: Catarina Amado, Diana Silva
On: Ana Capeta, Joana Marchao
90 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Pereira down hurt
Lavelle swings in a corner from the right and there’s a huge collision between Pereira and Sonnett in the six yard box.
Prior to that, Amado was the latest Portuguese player to be booked after she fouled Lavelle.
87 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Morgan takes two shots
Two chances for Morgan.
She picks up a searching forward ball. She runs towards the byline and tries to find Rodman in the box but it’s cleared by a Portugal defender. The ball returns straight back to Morgan and she attempts a shot but it’s an easy save for Pereira.
The Netherlands are now seven up on Vietnam!
85 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Two changes for the USA
Off: Lindsey Horan, Lynn Williams
On: Emily Sonnett, Trinity Rodman
83 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Another striker comes on for Portugal
Jessica Silva turns Girma brilliantly and wins a free kick.
Girma is booked for that pull on Silva’s shirt. Before the free kick, Norton comes off for Encarnacao.
The free kick is swung into the box. It finds Costa on right edge of the area. She lashes the ball into the centre of the box, but the USA scramble it clear.
82 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Silva collides with Fox
Portugal know that they only need one chance, but they are struggling to create anything of note.
Jessica Silva collides with Fox on the touchline, but the referee sees nothing wrong with the challenge.
Portugal are lining up more changes.
79 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Plenty to play for
There’s real tension around Eden Park. Everybody knows what’s at stake here.
Both teams have struggled to find any real rhythm in this second half.
76 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Morgan misplaces a pass
The USA still look out of sorts. Morgan attempts a forward pass but plays it into an empty part of the Portugal half.
They are going to need something special to find a winner in this one.
74 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Repinoe wastes a free kick
Repinoe takes a free kick from the left. She looks for Horan but its cut out by the Portugal defence.
Dolores Silva then wins a free kick for Portugal in her own half after Lavelle clumsily clatters into her.
72 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Record crowd in Auckland
Francisco Neto is urging his Portuguese players on from the touchline. He knows how big the final 20 minutes will be.
The attendance has just been announced and it’s recorded as the largest ever crowd for a football match in New Zealand.
Gomes is the latest player yellow carded. She was late with a lunging challenge on Morgan.
70 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Silva gets back up
Silva finally gets back to her feet. She looks OK to continue.
We can now expect some lengthy stoppage time to be added on.
67 mins: Portugal 0-0 USA
Silva remains down
Silva is still down for Portugal as the game stops for a few minutes.
The USA still going through as things stand, but it’s certainly not comfortable.
Keep fighting 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/5iQskBgxWK
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) August 1, 2023