Women's World Cup Recap: United States 0 - Portugal 0

The United States keeps their three-peat hopes alive as they book their place in the knockout stage of the World Cup following a scoreless draw in their Group Stage finale.

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Soccer

The United States Women’s National Team returned to action Tuesday morning as they faced Portugal inside Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.

Despite being atop Group E, the Stars & Stripes desperately needed a win as second-placed Netherlands faced Vietnam, who had yet to score a goal in the tournament. Their opponent, Portugal, sat in third, trailing the US and Netherlands by one point.

Vlatko Andonovski made two changes from the lineup that secured a point in a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands. Alyssa Naeher started in goal, as Crystal Dunn, Naomi Girma, Julie Ertz, and Emily Fox comprised the backline. Lindsey Horan, Andi Sullivan, and Rose Lavelle were in the midfield, while Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan, and Lynn Williams provided the attack.

Williams got the U.S. offense rolling in the third minute as she drove up the right flank and sent a cross centrally to Morgan right in front of the goal. Morgan turned in anticipation of the cross but couldn’t strike it as the Portuguese defense beat her to the ball and deflected it out for a corner kick.

Nervy moments in the 30th minute as a Portuguese cross from the right flank looked like it was going to fall directly to an attacker. Thankfully, it missed, but the ball dangerously bounced in the box toward an open attacker, but the United States defense recovered and cleared the ball before the attacker could get to it.

Rose Lavelle became the first U.S. player to enter the book as she received a yellow card in the 39th minute after committing a foul on Dolores Silva. Lavelle’s yellow may prove costly as she will miss the Round of 16 match due to yellow card accumulation.

Naomi Girma created a wonderful opportunity in stoppage time as she lobbed the ball forward from midfield to Williams. Williams’ first touch let her down, but she quickly recovered as she sent a laser of a shot toward goal, but it was directed right at the Portuguese goalkeeper.

It was an action-packed half of soccer, but neither side found the back of the net as they entered the locker room deadlocked in a scoreless draw. Portugal shocked many as they appeared to be the more dominant team through the opening 45 minutes.

The U.S. received a golden opportunity in the 56th minute as Carole Costa’s foul on Morgan awarded them a free kick just feet outside the penalty box. Lavelle stood over the ball and curled in a cross centrally to Morgan who attempted to head the ball into the back of the net, but her header lacked accuracy as it sailed out for a goal kick.

The United States’ first change came in the 60th minute as Megan Rapinoe came on for Smith. Two more changes came in the 83rd minute as Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett came on for Horan and Williams.

Ana Capeta nearly crushed the United States’ hopes and dreams of a three-peat in stoppage time as she outmuscled the U.S. defense in the box and rocketed a shot forward. Alyssa Naeher could do nothing as she stood and watched the ball sail towards goal.

But Capeta’s shot trailed to the right as it doinked off the goalpost and trickled back into play before the United States recovered the ball.

The final two U.S. substitutions came in the seventh minute of stoppage time as Kelley O’Hara and Alyssa Thompson came on for Crystal Dunn and Alex Morgan.

It wasn't a great performance by the United States, but they kept their three-peat hopes alive by securing a point with a scoreless draw. 

Despite the point, the United States dropped to second in the group as the Netherlands secured three points and the top spot in Group E with a dominant 6-0 win over Vietnam.

With their second-place finish in Group E, the United States will take on the winner of Group G on August 5th at 5:00 AM ET on FOX. Considering their lead in points and goal differential, Sweden will likely take the top spot in Group G. The US will officially learn who they will face tomorrow as second-placed Italy takes on South Africa and first-placed Sweden takes on Argentina.