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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')

Portugal snatch last-gasp draw against USA

Silvestre Varela scores in stoppage time to earn Portugal a draw against the USA.

USA were denied a shock victory over Portugal after Silvestre Varela snatched a late equaliser for the Iberians.

The States, who came into the game hoping to seal a place in the second round, made the worst possible start when a seemingly harmless cross skewed off the shin of Geoff Cameron and into the path of Nani, who calmly put the ball beyond Tim Howard.

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 charges did respond well after the goal and almost levelled when Clint Dempsey's free kick had Beto beaten, but flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Dempsey went close again moments later when his burst down the right saw the ex-Fulham player bearing down on goal, but his shot from a tight angle was stopped by Beto.

Portugal couldn't keep the Seattle Sounders forward out of the action and he had another chance on 18 minutes when he attempted a deft lob, but saw his effort drift wide.

Dempsey then turned provider for Michael Bradley and, although he scuffed his shot, it was only inches wide of Beto's goal.

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© Getty Images

Portugal nearly doubled their advantage moments before half time when Nani's shot came back off the post, but Eder failed to convert the rebound as Howard recovered to nudge his effort over the bar.

After the break, the USA could hardly believe that they hadn't equalised when the ball fell to Bradley inside the six-yard box, but Ricardo Costa was on the line to produce a stunning clearance and keep his side ahead.

However, their lead was lost in the 64th minute when they failed to clear a corner and Jermaine Jones's well-taken effort was too much for Beto.

With nine minutes remaining, Klinsmann's men had completed their dramatic turnaround when Graham Zusi's dangerous cross was bundled home by Dempsey off his stomach, to the delight of the sizeable US support in Manaus.

Clint Dempsey of the United States celebrates scoring his team's second goal past Beto of Portugal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between the United States and Portugal at Arena Amazonia on June 22, 2014© Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo had an excellent opportunity to restore parity when he got onto the end of Joao Moutinho's ball into the box, but he dragged his shot wide.

However, with the last attack of the game, Varela headed home Ronaldo's cross to break USA hearts and keep Portugal's World Cup dreams alive.

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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
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Group A

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

Group B

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

Group C

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

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
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

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

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