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The U.S. girls’s nationwide staff superior to the knockout spherical of the 2023 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup on Tuesday, however solely by the pores and skin of its tooth.
Vlatko Andonovski’s completed second in Group E after incomes a 0-0 draw with Portugal in its closing group stage match. Portugal got here near stealing a late victory in opposition to the two-time defending World Cup winners however struck the put up in second-half stoppage time.
Portugal didn’t again down in opposition to the People within the first half, with Jessica Silva pulling her shot extensive of the USWNT web within the twenty fourth minute.
Lynn Williams pressured Portuguese goalkeeper Ines Pereira into a powerful save within the twenty eighth minute however proceeded to sky her rebound try over the web.
The USWNT was denied a gap objective within the 54th minute after Alex Morgan’s shot was cleared off the goalline. Diana Gomes raced again to clear Morgan’s effort and preserve Portugal stage with 30+ minutes to play.
Pereira stood tall within the Portugal web, making six saves and retaining the People at bay on a number of probabilities. Francisco Neto’s squad even got here near leapfrogging the People into second place with one of many closing kicks of the match.
Ana Capeta snuck behind the USWNT backline within the 91st minute and had a powerful alternative to win the match. Nonetheless, Alyssa Naeher’s proper put up got here to the rescue and denied the 25-year-old a heroic alternative to get rid of the USWNT within the closing minutes.
Regardless of development to the Spherical of 16, the USWNT seemed misplaced by means of majority of the match and can hope for a greater displaying in a do-or-die match.
The USWNT will subsequent face the Group G winner (Sweden or Italy) on August 6 in Melbourne.
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