US slips into spherical of 16 of Girls’s World Cup after scoreless draw with Portugal

Sports activities Information

Portugal was inches away from eliminating the US in what would have been the largest upset in Girls’s World Cup historical past.

United States’ Megan Rapinoe, left, replaces teammate Sophia Smith through the Girls’s World Cup Group E soccer match between Portugal and america at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (AP Photograph/Andrew Cornaga) Andrew Cornaga/AP Photograph

By ANNE M. PETERSON, Related Press

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — The 2-time reigning champion United States got here an inch in need of Girls’s World Cup elimination, however Portugal’s late near-miss helped the People keep away from the largest upset in event historical past.

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The People slipped by means of to the knockout spherical Tuesday regardless of a listless, uninspiring 0-0 draw in opposition to Portugal. The U.S. received just one sport in group play for the primary time in event historical past, and scored simply 4 targets over three video games.

In a hold-your-breath second, the People got here an inch away from elimination when Ana Capeta almost scored in stoppage for Portugal. Her shot hit the left publish and the People preserved the draw.

The tie was simply sufficient to make sure the People superior to the knockout spherical. The U.S. regarded shaky at greatest in a sport they have been have been anticipated to win.

“It’s not the outcome we wished, however we transfer ahead,” ahead Alex Morgan stated.

The People, essentially the most profitable crew ever on the World Cup with 4 titles, have by no means been eradicated within the group stage on the World Cup.

The trail for the People additionally hinged on the outcomes of the Netherlands match in opposition to Vietnam, performed concurrently in Dunedin. With a decisive 7-0 victory, the Netherlands bumped america from the highest of Group E.

The People transfer on because the second seed as Portugal, taking part in in its first World Cup, heads dwelling. The Portuguese sobbed on the sector after the ultimate whistle after having come so near upsetting the mighty People.

Lynn Williams had an opportunity on a header within the 14th minute however Portugal goalkeeper Ines Pereira smothered it. Whereas the U.S. managed possession and had the higher possibilities, the crew couldn’t end and the sport was scoreless on the break.

Rose Lavelle picked up a yellow card within the thirty eighth minute, her second of the group stage, and he or she received’t be accessible for the crew’s spherical of 16 match.

The frustration of the U.S. followers at Eden Park was evident on the break, when there have been scattered boos among the many crowd because the groups headed for the tunnel. Early within the second half, a fireplace alarm went off within the stadium. It turned out to be a malfunctioning sprinkler.

The USA had a free kick from a harmful spot within the 57th minute, however Morgan’s header popped up effectively over the objective. She put her fingers to her face in exasperation.

“I feel we simply want a little bit little bit of ruthlessness in entrance of the online,” Lavelle stated. “I feel we’re getting the probabilities, however it’s that closing little bit of ruthlessness of simply placing it away.”

Megan Rapinoe got here in as a sub within the 61st minute, however the Golden Boot winner on the 2019 World Cup couldn’t discover that elusive objective.

U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski tweaked his beginning lineup for the match and began ahead Williams and midfielder Lavelle for the primary time at this World Cup. He had began Trinity Rodman at ahead and Savannah DeMelo within the midfield for the crew’s first two video games.

Lavelle boosted the crew when she got here in at halftime in opposition to the Netherlands on Thursday in Wellington when a lackluster opening half despatched the People into the break down 1-0 to the Dutch. Lavelle’s nook to Lindsey Horan gave the People a 1-1 draw within the match.

However the vitality simply wasn’t there in opposition to Portugal and the People appeared misplaced and unorganized for many of the match. In a post-game huddle, defender Kelley O’Hara, one of many veterans, appeared offended as she shouted at her teammates.

“I simply informed the crew ‘Pay attention, we did what we needed to do, we’re shifting on, the group stage is finished, that is over, it’s within the rearview, we’ve our subsequent sport in entrance of us and that’s the one one which issues,’” O’Hara stated. “Perhaps we didn’t do it the way in which we wished to, or deliberate on doing it, however we’re advancing and that is the World Cup and that’s all that issues.”

The USA final misplaced within the group stage to Sweden on the 2011 World Cup, however the People nonetheless superior to the ultimate match earlier than shedding on penalties to champion Japan.

The People haven’t wanted the third and closing group-stage match to be taught their event destiny since 2007, when there was solely a slim probability for elimination. A loss to Portugal on Tuesday would have ended the People event.

Going into the match in opposition to Portugal, america sat atop Group E, even on factors with the Netherlands however holding an edge on objective differential.

The USA had received the entire earlier 10 matches in opposition to Portugal. The Portuguese have by no means scored in opposition to the People.

With its decisive victory over Vietnam, the Netherlands heads to Sydney to face the second-place crew from Group G, which incorporates Sweden, South Africa, Italy and Argentina. The USA performs the group’s prime crew.

“They made it irritating for us, and yeah, I feel we’re upset with ourselves. However we made it by means of, so we’ve obtained to place our evergy towards that,” Lavelle stated.