Portugal tied the U.S. 2-2 with a last second goal in their Group G match at soccer’s World Cup in Brazil.
Varela scored in the final minute of added time to tie the match after the U.S. scored twice in the second half to take a lead.
Jermaine Jones got the Americans back into the match in the 64th minute, taking the ball across the front of Portugal’s penalty area and swung a shot past goalkeeper Beto, who could only turn and watch it go in.
Ten minutes before the end, Clint Dempsey chested the ball past Beto to give the U.S. a lead. Dempsey was replaced after scoring his second goal of the tournament.
Portugal took an early lead when Nani was unguarded as an attempted clearance by Geoff Cameron came to the forward in front of the U.S. goal, and he slammed the ball past goalkeeper Tim Howard in the fifth minute.
Varela came to Portugal’s rescue with a headed goal from a cross from Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Americans had the best chance of the start of the second half as Michael Bradley’s shot in the 55th minute was kept out by the reaction of defender Ricardo Costa.
Heated Players
It was 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit) with 62 percent humidity when the game started in Manaus on the edge of the Amazon. Late in the first half, Argentinian referee Nestor Pitana gave the players a water break.
The Portuguese had 55 percent of possession in the first half, but the U.S. outshot them with 4 attempts on target to 2. Howard was called into action late in the first half, as Nani’s shot hit the post and Eder chipped the ball over the goalkeeper, who stuck a hand up to poke the ball over his crossbar.
The Americans replaced the injured Jozy Altidore with Graham Zusi. Portugal was forced to make four changes from the team that lost 4-0 to Germany in their opening match. Rui Patricio is injured and Beto replaced him in goal. Ricardo Costa, Andre Almeida and Helder Postiga started because of injuries to Fabio Coentrao and Hugo Almeida, and the suspension of Pepe for his red card against Germany.
The U.S. would have advanced with a victory, while Portugal, which features current World Player of the Year Ronaldo, would be out with a loss. The draw keeps all teams in the group able to progress.
Standings
Yesterday, Germany drew 2-2 with Ghana, missing a chance to control Group G.
Going into tonight’s game, Germany leads the group with four points after two matches, while the U.S. has three after one. Ghana has one point after two matches and Portugal has none.
In the final round of opening games on June 26, Germany takes on the U.S. and Portugal meets Ghana to decide the group.
Earlier today in Group H, Algeria defeated Korea 4-2 and Belgium scored late to beat Russia 1-0.
The Algerian victory was their first in the tournament since 1982.
The Algerians shocked the Koreans with three first-half goals -- including two in a two-minute stretch -- before the Asian side scored twice in the second period to cut into the lead.
Quick Goals
Islam Slimani split the Korean defense to control a long pass and touch the ball into the net in the 26th minute in Porto Alegre. Two minutes later, Rafik Halliche doubled the lead with a header from a corner kick. Algeria used another long pass for the third. The ball was controlled by Slimani who passed to Abdelmoumene Djabou to place into the goal in the 38th minute.
Five minutes into the second half, Korea’s Son Heungmin controlled a ball, made a cut to place it on his left foot and shot through the legs of goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi. It was the Koreans’ first shot on goal.
They had several more with Mbolhi punching away one shot and a defender heading one off the line before Yacine Brahimi scored in the 62nd minute after exchanging with passes with Slimani in the Korean penalty area.
Korean captain Koo Jacheol side-footed in a pass in the 72th minute to cut the lead to 4-2.
Belgian Goal
In the group’s first game today, Belgium used a late goal from teen-age substitute Divock Origi to beat Russia 1-0 and advance to the next round.
Origi toed in a pass from Eden Hazard to put the Belgians ahead in the 85th minute in Rio De Janeiro. It came minutes after another substitute, Kevin Mirallas, forced a save from a 25-yard free kick.
The game changed in the last 10 minutes, as Belgium coach Marc Wilmot’s substitutes made a difference. After surviving waves of Russian possession and attacks, Hazard dribbled in from the left and cut a pass back to the 19-year-old to score.
“It was a complicated match but we’re very happy with the victory today,” Hazard told reporters. “With the substitutes that were fresh, that was a good thing. I guess the Russian defense was a bit tired so we got more space.”
The Belgians have won their two group matches, and will move to the next round with at least their current six points. Algeria is in second with three points after today’s win. Russia, which faces Algeria in their final match, and Korea, which will meet Belgium, both have one point.
Belgium had 55 percent of possession in the first half, but Russia had more shots on target -- 4 to the Belgium’s 2 in Rio de Janeiro. Belgium lost defender Thomas Vermaelen to injury, and he was replaced by Jan Vertonghen.
Fast Start
At the start of the game, Belgium’s Dries Mertens had chances to score, but put two shots just wide of Igor Akinfeev’s goal.
From a 42nd minute corner kick, Russia’s Victor Fayzulin volleyed over the Belgian goal. Two minutes later, Alexander Kokorin missed an unchallenged header, pushing it past the right post.
Russia dominated possession at the start of the second half, with Belgium forced to rely on blocks and long kicks to get the ball out of its area.
Substitute defender Andrey Eshchenko was unable to take advantage of being unguarded on the edge of the penalty area, shooting across the goal and wide in the 80th minute.
Belgium then started increasing the pressure, which paid off when Hazard passed to Origi in the penalty area and he beat the goalkeeper.
Unfair Result
“I’m very happy with the performance of the team,” Russia coach Fabio Capello said. “The result today is unfair but the truth of the matter is that we lost. We had chances to win, it was a very good match because both teams I felt tried to give it their all and win. Unfortunately, however, it was Belgium that was able to make it.”
Military police established two new ticket checkpoints for fans exiting the Maracana subway station, and lined up in front of the media center that Chilean fans stormed on June 18. Argentine fans on June 15 clambered over a wall and surged through an open fence to gain stadium access. During the same game, a small group of protesters clashed with police near the Maracana.
Security Measures
Representatives from Brazil’s government met those from FIFA and the World Cup local organizing committee on June 20. They decided to reinforce security around the 12 stadiums, increase public security at control points, and boost private security within the arenas.
Argentina has taken the six available points from its first two matches, although it hasn’t been easy. Nigeria has four points after today’s win and Iran has 1 point. Bosnia has no points.
To contact the reporters on this story: Christopher Elser in Rio de Janeiro at celser@bloomberg.net; David Biller in Rio de Janeiro at dbiller1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net; Dex McLuskey at dmcluskey@bloomberg.net; Rob Gloster at rgloster@bloomberg.net Rob Gloster
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