AUCKLAND (AFP) – The USA survived a huge scare to reach the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup yesterday after a 0-0 draw against Portugal, who were unlucky not to claim a sensational win at Eden Park that would have taken them through instead.
The USA struggled to impose themselves against opponents ranked 21st in the world and appearing at their first World Cup, and Portugal almost won the game in injury time when substitute Ana Capeta hit the post.
Holding on for the draw means Vlatko Andonovski’s side finish in second place in Group E.
Pre-tournament favourites the USA will move to Australia to play a last-16 tie on Sunday against the winners of Group G, in all likelihood Olympic silver medallists Sweden.
Nothing about their performance here in front of almost 41,000 in Auckland, or in their two previous matches at the tournament, suggests the USA will find it easy going against a side who finished third at the last World Cup.
It is just the second time in Women’s World Cup history that the USA have failed to top their group, although on the last occasion, in 2011, they reached the final before losing on penalties to Japan.
They had never before won just one group game, and the regression from four years ago in France is striking. That time they won all three matches in the first phase, rattling in 18 goals without reply. Andonovski has insisted a youthful new team will need time to find its feet, but an urgent step-up will be required if they are not to be eliminated early in the knockout phase.
Andonovski made two changes from the 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, with Rose Lavelle rewarded for her game-changing role off the bench in that game with a first start at the tournament.
Savannah DeMelo made way for her, while Lynn Williams was brought in on the right wing as Trinity Rodman dropped out.
The USA have never before failed to reach the semi-finals in the eight prior editions of the World Cup.
