FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: US stumbles into knockout stages after 0-0 draw with Portugal

The United States held on by a thread to maintain its Women’s World Cup title defence alive on Tuesday, stumbling into the knockout phases with a 0-0 draw in opposition to debutant Portugal at Eden Park.

The four-times champion was enjoying with all the pieces on the road however spurned a number of possibilities to seek out the online and the addition of veteran Megan Rapinoe within the second half did little to show issues round in opposition to a bodily Portugal defence.

It survived an enormous scare in stoppage time when Ana Capeta hit the publish and one other fright when Capeta gained a free kick simply outdoors the field a couple of minutes later however held on by the nerve-searing last minutes of the affair.

The United States strikes on to the final 16 in Melbourne, the place it’ll nearly definitely face Sweden, after ending in second place in Group E behind Netherlands.