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| Silvestre Varela celebrates after scoring his last second equaliser to deny USA an outright qualification |
ABC
Portuguese substitute Silvestre Varela grabbed a
dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw with the United
States in World Cup Group G and keep his team's hopes alive.
Just
as it looked as though the Americans had secured a come-from-behind
victory to qualify for the second round, Varela scored with a flying
header from a Cristiano Ronaldo cross.
The result means that after two games, USA is level with Germany on
four points. Portugal is joint bottom with Ghana on one point and faces a
tough task to make the next round.
"When you concede in the last
second it is unfortunate, but it was an amazing game from us, I can't
ask for any more," US coach Juergen Klinsmann said.
The Americans face Germany in the final game and need a point to ensure qualification.
"We
will take even more confidence into the next game. It will be another
final but that is what the World Cup is about," said Klinsmann.
The
US scored late to beat Ghana 2-1 in the first game and Clint Dempsey
looked to have repeated the feat in the 81st minute against Portugal,
steering the ball home with his stomach to give his team the lead.
Portugal
lost its first game 4-0 to Germany and coach Paulo Bento said his team
had to beat the Americans to stand any chance of progressing.
Portugal
opened the scoring in the fifth minute when US defender Geoff Cameron
swung a foot at a Miguel Veloso cross and succeeded only in slicing the
ball across his own area right to the feet of Nani, who scored easily.
The
Europeans then sat back in the heat and humidity, allowing their
opponents to start dominating. The temperature in the Amazonia arena was
30 degrees Celsius at kickoff with a humidity reading of 65 per cent.
Portugal still looked dangerous in the first half and Nani hit the
left-hand post in the 45th minute from outside the area. The ball
rebounded to Eder but his looping shot was brilliantly scooped over the
bar by US goalkeeper Tim Howard.
As the second half progressed the
Portuguese wilted and it was little surprise when US midfielder
Jermaine Jones cut in from the left in the 64th minute and fired in a
superb right- foot curling shot from 25 metres to equalise.
Portugal
started with Ronaldo, who has been trying to shake off a knee injury.
He was ineffective against the Germans and only shone fitfully against
the Americans, leaving the best until last.
The US missed a great
chance to equalise in the 55th minute when Michael Bradley's close-range
shot was cleared off the line by Ricardo Costa.
Varela's goal was
the second time he has struck late for Portugal at a major tournament.
In Euro 2012, he scored an 87th-minute winner against Denmark in a
first-round game.
