Germany, USA seal last-16 spot
Both teams advance from the group after a 1-0 German win but Portugal and Ghana bow out of Brazil 2014.
The United States reached the knockout stage of consecutive World Cups for the first time, just not the way the Americans wanted.
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Germany beat the US 1-0 in soggy Recife on Thomas Mueller’s 55th-minute goal to win Group G, but the Americans held onto second place when Portugal defeated Ghana 2-1 in a game played simultaneously in Brasilia.
The Germans, three-time World Cup champions, finished with seven points, while the US had four after allowing a 95th-minute goal against Portugal on Sunday in a 2-2 draw.
Portugal also had four, but the Americans advanced from the so-called “Group of Death” because their goal difference was even and the Portuguese were minus three.
The Americans will play the Group H winner, likely Belgium put possibly Algeria, Monday in Salvador.
The Americans sprinted out onto the field at the final whistle, about 30 seconds before the other game ended and made advancement official. Brad Davis raised both hands and led the applauding US team to the side of the stadium where the majority of American supporters sat.