Ronaldo breaks Americans' hearts after late U.S. lapse
MANAUS, Brazil – It took Cristiano Ronaldo 94 minutes plus a heavy fistful of change before he showed the magic that makes him the world's best player.
And the United States paid for it.
At the end of an exhilarating game the U.S. looked to have won thanks to a dramatic comeback, there was a final twist of the knife to come from the man who divides opinion like few others in soccer, but has unmistakable brilliance.
Love or hate him – and there will be at least a few U.S. fans reaching for their Ronaldo voodoo dolls right now – the fact is that he has the ability to turn a game on its head in a way few others can, except perhaps some guy called Messi.
That is what happened just at the moment the U.S. thought its job was done, leading 2-1 with nothing more than a few ticks on the clock, deep into injury time at the Arena da Amazonia.
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Suddenly the ball was at Ronaldo's feet and he sprinted forward, catching the exhausted Americans flat-footed. You can't give Ronaldo a foot of space. Not even when he is struggling with a knee injury. Not even when he is at perhaps 80 percent capacity. Not even when you've shut him down for 90 minutes and more.
His cross from the right was perfect, and Portugal sub Silvestre Varela had enough sap in his legs to find an ideal position and produce the header that broke U.S. hearts.
"We did such a good job on Ronaldo," defender Matt Besler said. "It is funny, the last play of the game he finally gets into open space, which he wasn't allowed all night. Instead of trying to take someone on one-on-one, he takes a touch and moves in a world-class ball."
The U.S. worked and fought with ferocity and tirelessness, never giving Ronaldo an inch. When he went to the right, Fabian Johnson stuck close to his flashing feet. When he switched left, DaMarcus Beasley and Jermaine Jones refused to buckle. When he ventured across the field, Kyle Beckerman was a constant shadow.
At different times and in different ways there were others getting in Ronaldo's way, nipping at his heels, blocking his path to goal, trying to anticipate his next feat of trickery.
Sure, Germany had managed it days earlier, but that was Germany – a machine built to deal with a brilliant individual opponent like no other. This was a U.S. lineup with seven players from Major League Soccer.
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"We had an exquisite game plan [for Ronaldo] and I thought we executed it brilliantly," goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "Portugal didn't hurt us really."
Until that telling moment when they did.
Portugal is still alive, by a thread, and the Americans, having been so close to qualification they could taste it, find themselves with some more work to do.
Having been seconds away from having conquering Ronaldo, in the end the U.S. merely survived him.
That, for now, will have to do.
