Late Goal Keeps Portugal in World Cup

Portugal was saved from early elimination from the FIFA World Cup with a 95th minute goal from substitute Silvestre Varela in a dramatic 2-2 draw against the United States in Manaus.

After a 4-0 loss to Germany in their opening match, Portugal needed a response to bounce back to salvage their campaign and it came as early as the fifth minute through Nani.

The Manchester United midfielder took advantage of a poor clearance by USA defender Geoff Cameron of Miguel Veloso’s cross to slot in the opening goal for Portugal.

Clint Dempsey, deployed as the lone striker for USA in place of the injured Jozy Altidore, came close to an equaliser with a 15th minute freekick that sailed just over with Portugal keeper Beto at full stretch.

Dempsey would force Beto to punch clear from his shot from a tight angle two minutes later while USA midfielder Michael Bradley saw two long range efforts go just over before the half-hour mark as the Americans searched for an equaliser.

Portugal ended the first half with a late siege on the USA goal and were only denied a second goal by goalkeeper Tim Howard who fumbled a tame Nani effort and was lucky to see the ball bounce off the post before making a reflex save to keep out substitute Eder’s effort on the rebound.

The second half began with USA edging play and again coming close to an equaliser through Bradley who saw a goalbound effort blocked by defender Ricardo Costa with goalkeeper Beto well out of position.

USA would finally get the equaliser in the 64th minute through Jermaine Jones who was found from a cornerkick and curled in a shot from the edge of the Portugal area.

The goal prompted Portugal boss Paulo Bento to bring on striker Varela for a four-man attack as Portugal needed a win to have a good chance of progressing from the group.

But it would be the Americans that got the next goal through Dempsey, who bundled home a Graham Zusi cross nine minutes from time to put the Americans ahead and become USA’s all-time joint top World Cup goalscorer with Landon Donovan.

Knowing the goal would see USA through to the last 16 and Portugal eliminated with a game to play, the Portuguese took the upperhand in search of at least an equaliser in the closing stages.

Ronaldo was flagged offside when his shot off a deflected Eder effort was saved by Howard while the Real Madrid man headed a Joao Moutinho cross over as the clock wound down for Portugal.

But with 30 seconds left to play, Ronaldo sent in a perfect cross met at the far post by Varela, who headed past Howard to grab a dramatic equaliser for Portugal and leave the Americans in despair.

The result leaves Portugal still bottom of the group with a point and a -4 goal difference while the USA is second with four points and a +1 goal difference behind Germany with four points as well but a +4 goal difference.

Portugal now needs to defeat Ghana, that have one point and a -1 gol difference, by a wide margin in their final Group G match while also hoping the other match between frontrunners does not end in a draw to reach the last 16.