MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 07:07:47| >> :600:220396:220396:
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Attendance: 40,123
USA national football team
World Cup | Group Stage
Jun 22, 2014 at 11pm UK
 
Portugal national football team

2-2

Jones (64'), Dempsey (81')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Nani (5'), Varela (90+5')

Half-Time Report: Nani gives Portugal lead against USA

Portugal lead 1-0 against the USA at half time thanks to an early strike from Nani.

An early strike from Nani has given Portugal a crucial lead as they look to get their World Cup campaign back on track with a win over the USA.

Portugal's forward Nani celebrates with Portugal's defender Joao Pereira after scoring during a Group G football match between USA and Portugal at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 22, 2014© Getty Images

Jurgen Klinsmann's side will be kicking themselves about the manner in which they fell behind when, in the fifth minute, a seemingly innocuous cross skewed off the shin of Stoke City defender Geoff Cameron and the Manchester United winger gratefully accepted the chance to score from close range.

However, the Stars and Stripes responded well after conceding early and were nearly back on terms by the 13th minute when Clint Dempsey's free kick was only narrowly over the crossbar with keeper Beto a helpless spectator.

The Seleccao's bad luck with injuries continued when striker Helder Postiga was forced off through injury with little more than a quarter of an hour played in Manaus.

Dempsey was soon involved in another US attack when he burst down the right-hand side, before unleashing a shot from a tight angle that Beto needed to be equal to.

The Seattle Sounders forward continued to threaten in advanced areas and came close to an equaliser in the 18th minute as his attempted lob was narrowly wide.

Portugal struggled to resist their opponents in forward areas and Dempsey again proved difficult to contain as he found Michael Bradley, but the midfielder's scuffed shot drifted narrowly wide of the post.

With 10 minutes of the half remaining, Jermaine Jones then tried his luck from range and Beto needed to get down well to keep his effort out.

Portugal had a great chance of scoring a second on the stroke of half time when Nani struck the post, but Eder couldn't score from the rebound as Tim Howard recovered to tip his effort over the bar.

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Jermaine Jones of the United States celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between the United States and Portugal at Arena Amazonia on June 22, 2014
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Live Commentary: USA 2-2 Portugal - as it happened
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

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Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

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Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

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Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

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Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

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Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

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Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023

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