USA vs Portugal highlights: How USWNT survived to advance to World Cup knockout rounds

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The U.S. women are still alive at the World Cup.

Barely.

Needing a win or tie to avoid being eliminated in the group stage for the first time ever at a World Cup or Olympics, the four-time World Cup champions squeaked through with a scoreless draw against Portugal, a team it had beaten in each of its previous 10 meetings. It was a far closer game than it should have been, but the tie was enough for the USWNT to finish second in Group E and go through.

That’s the good news. The bad news is the USWNT is likely to face old nemesis Sweden in the round of 16. And they’re not playing like a team built for a deep run. In fact, if not for the near post, they’d be going home. Portugal's Ana Capeta unleashed a corker early in second-half stoppage time and it ricocheted off the post, saving the USWNT to play another day.

Despite Rose Lavelle starting for the first time and Lynn Williams replacing Trinity Rodman, the USWNT had barely any spark. Instead, they were as lackluster as they’d been in the first two games, turning the ball over, making passes into empty spaces and not finishing the chances they did have. When a fire alarm sounded early in the second half at Eden Park, it seemed like a metaphor for this USWNT squad.  — Nancy Armour

When do the USWNT play next?

The Americans advance to the knockout stage of the World Cup with their 0-0 draw vs. Portugal, which means they’ll take the second seed out of Group E. That means their next game — likely against Sweden, a familiar foe — will kickoff at 5 a.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 6. Get the coffee ready. (With its 7-0 shellacking of Vietnam, the Netherlands finished first in Group E.)

US-Sweden game: Will we see it in Round of 16? 

The USWNT’s next opponent won’t be set in stone until Wednesday morning, but it’s likely to be a team the Americans have plenty of history with: Sweden.

As the runner-up for Group E, the USWNT will play the winner of Group G at 5 a.m. ET Sunday. Sweden currently leads group G and will close out group play Wednesday against Italy, which is second in the group. Sweden is a frequent opponent of the USWNT. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the teams met in the opening game, the ninth time they’d played each other in a major world championship. The USWNT was embarrassed that match, losing 3-0.

Next USWNT game? Americans must fix lack of urgency

What the U.S. women are saying publicly better not be what they’re feeling privately.

The reaction to yet another lackluster World Cup performance, with similar mistakes to the previous two, was largely unbothered. They’re into the knockout rounds. How they got there, and how it looked, seemed beside the point.

If that isn’t a masterful acting job by the USWNT, if this is what they really think, then this team is irrationally confident.

“Because I know this team and I know what we’re capable of,” Alex Morgan said when asked after Tuesday’s scoreless draw with Portugal why she expects anything different going forward. “Just because it hasn’t clicked every moment on the field and we’re not putting the goals in the back of the net doesn’t mean these aren’t the right players for the job. The confidence is there. Now we just have to prove it out on the field.”

Well, yeah. Unless the USWNT finds a way to turn things around – fast – they’re making a very different kind of history than they came here intending. — Nancy Armour

USWNT vs. Portugal score, highlights

Although there were no goals in USWNT vs. Portugal, check out the highlights here.

Women's World Cup groups, standings

Here are the complete standings for the tournament.

Group E standings

Here are the Group E World Cup standings.

USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski responds to Carli Lloyd

Here's what U.S. women's national team coach Vlatko Andonovski said in response to criticism from former captain Carli Lloyd:

"One thing I want to say is this team wanted to win this game more than anything else. They put everything they could into the preparation for this tournament. To question mentality of this team, to question their willingness to win, to compete, I think it’s insane. I’ve never seen this team step on the field and not try hard, not to compete. Everyone is entitled to opinion. They can say whatever they want. But I know how this team feels.

"We owned it. We know it’s not good enough. We’re not happy with our performance. We qualified for the next round. We’re moving on." — Nancy Armour

USWNT vs. Portugal replay

You can replay any match in full here. In addition, Fox Sports is airing a replay at 5 p.m. ET Tuesday.

USWNT starting lineup vs. Portugal

There were some lineup changes for USWNT vs. Portugal. Most notably, Rose Lavelle, the breakout star of the 2019 World Cup, started in the midfield. Lavelle has been hampered by a knee injury the last couple months but her play against the Netherlands in Game 2 last week was crucial. Also, Lynn Williams started at forward instead of Trinity Rodman. Here was the full lineup:

• Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher

• Defenders: Crystal Dunn, Julie Ertz, Naomi Girma, Emily Fox

• Midfielders: Lindsey Horan, Andi Sullivan, Rose Lavelle

• Forwards: Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan, Lynn Williams

USWNT vs. Portugal stats

Here's a look at the team stats from the 0-0 draw.

USA vs. Portugal player ratings

The stats may show the USWNT holding a 17-6 shot advantage over Portugal, and this is another game in which a U.S. opponent were held without a shot on goal. However, anyone that watched the match would be able to tell you that the Portuguese troubled the U.S. from start to finish, seeing the game’s best chance end with Ana Capeta hitting the post deep in stoppage time.

It was a dispiriting and disappointing showing in which no player really looked like they’d been given a platform to be their best. If the USWNT is to go on and make history as the first team to win three consecutive World Cups, this has to be by far their worst performance of the tournament.

Here’s a player ratings breakdown from a game in which no one looked particularly good.

— Jason Anderson, ProSoccerWire

Rose Lavelle yellow card

Rose Lavelle was given a yellow card in the 39th minute for tripping Portugal's Dolores Silva. Lavelle will miss the round of 16 game for yellow card accumulation. She also got a yellow against the Netherlands.

USWNT yellow cards

Also receving yellow cards for the U.S. against Portugal: Forward Sophia Smith (52nd minute) and defender Naomi Girma (81st minute). Smith's came after a high knee from the forward bonked the head of a Portugal player. It is her first yellow card of the tournament.

Why Naomi Girma is essential to the USWNT at 2023 World Cup

Despite making her first appearance with the USWNT just 15 months ago, Naomi Girma become indispensable to the defense, and her poise and vision make it seem as if she’s been with the team forever.

"She looked like she had three World Cups behind her," coach Vlatko Andonovski marveled after Saturday’s World Cup opener, which Girma started and played all 90 minutes. “She was so comfortable.”

Girma disputes that, saying she was nervous before the game began. It was her World Cup debut, after all. Once the opening whistle blew, however, she felt a calm and confidence come over her. The setting might be the World Cup, but it’s still the same game she’s been playing since she was a little girl.

"As an athlete, playing at the highest level is something you always dream of. So for me, it's a dream come true," she said. "Then for my parents, seeing their daughter play for the U.S., the country they chose, it fills them with a lot of pride. They're so happy. We all feel so grateful. — Nancy Armour

Carli Lloyd calls USWNT's play ‘disappointing, uninspiring’

Two-time World Cup winner Carli Lloyd had some harsh words for the USWNT after the Americans’ 0-0 draw against Portugal. The tie allows the USWNT to move on to the knockout rounds, though the U.S. will do so as the No. 2 seed, which is a much harder path to the final.

But according to Lloyd, her former team isn’t headed for the championship game anyway.

“Today was uninspiring. Disappointing. They don’t look fit. They’re playing as individuals and the tactics are too predictable,” Lloyd said on FOX Sports postgame show.

She reiterated some criticism she’s leveled at U.S. soccer since retiring in 2021, saying “the winning doesn’t matter as much anymore” as much as “a lot of the off the field things that are happening.”

“It started to shift post 2020,” Lloyd said. “You never want to take anything for granted. You put that jersey on for everyone who came before you and everyone who came after, and give it everything you have. I’m just not seeing the passion. It was lackluster, it was uninspiring.”

She added the U.S. is “playing not to lose versus playing to win — Portugal played to win, and they almost did.”

Pushed for specifics about what off-field events she was referencing, Lloyd mentioned the USWNT’s pregame dancing.

“Winning and training and doing all that you can do to be the best individual player, that’s not happening. We saw the dancing,” she said. “There’s a difference between confident and arrogance. Where is the direction going?”

Tuesday was hardly the first time Lloyd has been critical of the USWNT this World Cup. She ripped into the Americans at halftime of their Netherlands game, which ended in a 1-1 draw, and before kickoff against Portugal, she said star forward Alex Morgan should be benched. — Lindsay Schnell

USWNT World Cup history

The USWNT has won four World Cups overall and are going for their third straight and fifth overall. Here's a complete history of the tournament.

Former USWNT star Heather O’Reilly weighs in on criticism of Team USA

Here's what the current Fox Sports analyst had to say about USWNT's performance in the group stage.

“To remind everybody what happened in 2015: we got a good result in the first game, then we draw in the second game and then we stumble in our third game … There was so much chatter like, ‘are we going out early? Does this team have it?’ - but that doesn’t help. It doesn’t help the players, it doesn’t help the staff, it doesn’t help the football. We need to get behind the team. And in 2015, our backs were against the wall. We fought back, a couple tactical changes were made. We all know Carli Lloyd made history, but this team needs us to get behind them. They are a talented team. They've only given up one goal in three games.

"They're very defensive minded group, Vlatko Andonovski, he's conservative coach, so we have to embrace that. For us, it’s the next game. And just like this team - they survived and they advanced. They don't even care who they're playing. They don't care if it's Sweden, they don't care if they go one or two in the group. They're going to take care of business with the next opponent, and they have this crazy self-belief that they're going to move on.”

Watch her comments in full here.

USWNT coach history

Vlatko Andonovski became the 10th head coach of the US women's national team in October 2019, succeeding Jill Ellis. Here's a look at how each coach in the past fared.

Women's World Cup bracket

Here's how the bracket for the knockout rounds is shaping up.

Lynn Williams: What to know about USWNT forward

Lynn Williams was out for most of a year with torn hamstring in 2021. She scored and had assist in quarterfinal win over Netherlands at Tokyo Olympics. She won NWSL scoring title, MVP and league title in 2016. She co-hosts “Snacks” podcast with fellow USWNT player Sam Mewis.

• Hometown: Fresno, California

• Club: NJ/NY Gotham FC

• Age: 30

• Height: 5-7

• Caps: 52

• Goals / Assists: 15/12

USWNT press conference

Here is what Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle and Kelley O'Hara had to say about the draw.

USWNT results

The U.S. women's national team played to one win and two draws in the group stage of the 2023 World Cup. Here's a look back at all their results so far.

• USWNT 3, Vietnam 0: How Americans soared to victory in 2023 World Cup opener

• USWNT 1, Netherlands 1: Lindsey Horan's killer header and other must-see moments from draw

• USWNT 0, Portugal 0: How USWNT survived to advance to World Cup knockout rounds

Is Portugal out of the World Cup?

Although the Americans were disappointed in the draw, the Portuguese women were sent home with Tuesday’s final Group E result. Megan Rapinoe consoled Jessica Silva, who was sitting on the field with her head between her knees, distraught by the way things ended after her team fought for the chance to advance. It was Portugal’s World Cup debut.

“I think we were the most competent team, and we leave with a bitter feeling,” Silva said. “… We are really very sad for the result, although proud of what we did, of having played like this against a team who have been world champions twice in a row. Look at us, don't forget about us, please realize what Portugal has achieved.”

— Roxanna Scott

More late subs for USWNT, including Alyssa Thompson

The youngest player on the roster, Alyssa Thompson, and one of the USWNT’s veterans, Kelley O’Hara, subbed in for the USWNT during stoppage time, replacing Crystal Dunn and Alex Morgan. It is Thompson's first World Cup, and O'Hara's fourth.

Trinity Rodman, Emily Sonnett sub in late for USWNT

In the 84th minute, the USWNT finally used some subs.

Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett subbed in for the U.S. as Lindsey Horan and Lynn Williams went out.

Naomi Girma hit with yellow card

A rough game for the USWNT got rougher in the 81st minute as defender Naomi Girma was given a yellow card. The U.S. remains tied 0-0 with Portugal.

Megan Rapinoe subs in for USWNT

Megan Rapinoe, one of the most beloved players in U.S. soccer history and the star of the 2019 World Cup, subbed in for the USWNT in the 61st minute, replacing Sophia Smith.

Rapinoe, who plans to retire at the end of this season, is in a different role for the U.S. this World Cup, but she’s dangerous off of set pieces and experienced. This is her 201st appearance for the USWNT.

Yellow card for Sophia Smith

Sophia Smith got hit with a yellow card in the 52nd minute, after a high knee from the forward bonked the head of a Portugal player. It is her first yellow card of the tournament.

False alarm at the 2023 World Cup

Early in the second half, an alarm started sounding in Eden Park stadium — but it turns out, it was a false fire alarm. Play continued, everyone in the stadium ignored the sound and after a few minutes, it stopped.

USAWNT 0, Portugal 0: Instant halftime analysis

Vlatko Andonovski made the two changes fans have been screaming for, starting midfielder Rose Lavelle and inserting Lynn Williams over Trinity Rodman at forward. But aside from a spark at the start, it did little good.

The USWNT was as lackluster as they've been the other two games, turning the ball over, making passes to empty spaces and unable to finish the chances they did have.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Lavelle picked up her second yellow card, meaning she'll miss the USWNT's round-of-16 game. If the USWNT has a round-of-16 game.

— Nancy Armour

What happens if USA loses to Portugal?

If the USWNT loses to Portugal Tuesday, its World Cup is done. The Stars and Stripes will not advance to the knockout round with a loss. A tie would get them there, albeit as the second seed from Group E, which is a considerably harder path.

If Portugal upsets the USWNT, it would be historic — and not in a good way for the U.S. The USWNT has never, since the women's World Cup started in 1991 and Olympic play began in 1996, not made it through the group stage and to the knockout round. With the exception of 2016 Olympics, the Americans have reached semifinals or final at each of those tournaments.

Rose Lavelle gets yellow card — again

Rose Lavelle was given a yellow card in the 39th minute for tripping Portugal's Dolores Silva. That's brutal for the USWNT. If they make it through to the knockout rounds — no sure thing, with a 0-0 tie late in the first half — Lavelle will miss the round of 16 game for yellow card accumulation. She also got a yellow against the Netherlands.

Netherlands vs. Vietnam score erases USWNT goal differential

With the Netherlands up 5-0 on Vietnam midway through the first half of the other Group E match (yes, you read that correctly), the advantage the USWNT team had in goal differential — a critical stat when it comes to figuring out seeding for the knockout round — has evaporated. That will make it very difficult for the U.S. to win the group even if they defeat Portugal.

USWNT game tonight

The Americans play their final group stage game Tuesday at 3 a.m. ET. They face Portugal.

Where to watch USA vs. Portugal

All 2023 World Cup games will be broadcast in the U.S. by Fox, on both its main channel and FS1. It’s also available to stream on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app. Spanish-language coverage will be on Telemundo.

USA women World Cup schedule

This will be the final group stage match for the Americans. If they advance to the Round of 16 they could play Saturday (if they win Group E) or Sunday (if they come in second). Here are the game times and potential opponents:

• Saturday, Aug. 5: Winner Group E vs. Runner-up Group G, 10 p.m. ET

• Sunday, Aug. 6: Runner-up Group E vs. Winner Group G, 5 a.m. ET

Group G is currently led by Sweden and Italy, who finish group play Wednesday.

USA vs. Portugal predictions  

Nancy Armour, columnist: I think the USWNT comes out flying, much like Australia did against Canada on Monday night, and tags Portugal for a couple of quick, easy goals. Portugal pulls one back in the second half, but the USWNT wins 3-1.

Lindsay Schnell, reporter: The USWNT is mad — mostly about how they played vs. the Netherlands. They’ll be on a mission to squash any talk about if the World Cup is just too much for them, and use their anger to fuel a furious start. I expect a 4-1 final, and probably a 2-0 — maybe 3-0 — lead at halftime. They’re out to a send a message.

USWNT scenarios 

How can the USWNT advance in the knockout round with a win or draw vs. Portugal? We break down every scenario you can think of.

USWNT needs to be Portugal. It's no 'gimme' opponent.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The United States women’s third group-stage game is usually for style points, not survival.

Not at this World Cup.

For the first time since 2007, the USWNT goes into the final group game still needing to lock up its spot in the knockout rounds. As straightforward as the USWNT’s path to advance is – win or tie and they’re in – so, too, is what would be a catastrophic scenario for a team that’s one of the most successful in the world. In any sport. Men’s or women’s.

Lose to Portugal on Tuesday night, and the four-time World Cup champions will almost certainly be headed home. Never has the USWNT failed to reach the semifinals at a World Cup. Never have they bowed out in the group stage, at either the World Cup or the Olympics.

Read Nancy Armour's full column here

USWNT fans take over New Zealand

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Did anyone stay behind in the States?

Auckland was awash with USWNT fans ahead of the game, which kicks at 7 p.m. in Auckland. They were all over downtown, with faces painted and in gear that left no doubt about their allegiances. The trains to the stadium were filled with them. The concourses at Eden Park before the game, too.

And when the USWNT players took the field for warmups, the cheer that went up would have blown the roof off at Eden Park — if it had a roof.

— Nancy Armour

Meet the USWNT kids: Charlie, Marcel and Madden steal the spotlight

For as popular as the USWNT is, there might be a subset of the team that’s even more popular: the children of the USWNT.

The 2023 World Cup roster has three moms, the most the USWNT has ever taken to a major event. And while Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz and Crystal Dunn have been incredibly successful on the pitch – combine all their accolades and they’ve got six World Cup titles, six Olympic medals and four U.S. Soccer player of the year awards – their kids sometimes get more attention and generate more headlines.

Read Lindsay Schnell's full story here.

Megan Rapinoe, USWNT are 'exactly where we want to be'

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Megan Rapinoe lives for these types of moments.

The USWNT can advance to the knockout rounds with a win or a tie over Portugal on Tuesday. Lose, however, and the four-time World Cup champions would almost certainly be knocked out in the group stage for the first time ever at a World Cup or an Olympics.

The pressure of that, the anxiety, the realization that losing would forever change the way people see this team − it would make most people want to puke.

For Rapinoe, it’s rocket fuel.

"It’s a pressure moment, and that’s what the tournament is now. Every single game from here on out is that pressure moment and that’s the best part of being at the World Cup," Rapinoe said Sunday, her eyes gleaming.

Read Nancy Armour's full column here.

What time is it in New Zealand? 

Auckland is 16 hours ahead of the East Coast of the United States. That means the game vs. Portugal will kick at 7 p.m. New Zealand time.

How old is Sophia Smith? 

The USWNT forward is 22 years old and turns 23 on Aug. 10. In her World Cup debut vs. Vietnam, Smith scored two goals and tallied an assist.

How many World Cups has Alex Morgan played in? 

Four. Alex Morgan has been a staple of the USWNT since her debut on a snowy day in 2010.

She scored her first goal that fall and since then, she's scored 121 times for the Stars and Stripes and won back-to-back World Cups. The Southern California native was named a captain for this year's tournament where the team will attempt to make history with their third straight title. — Victoria Hernandez

USWNT World Cup wins 

The USWNT has won four World Cups overall and are going for their third straight and fifth overall.

Is Alex Morgan playing tonight? 

Yes, the forward is in the USWNT’s starting lineup, and looking to add to her 121-goal total. Morgan missed a penalty kick in the opener vs. Vietnam.

USWNT jerseys and merch

Looking for official the World Cup kits worn by Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and others? We’d recommend visiting the official U.S. soccer online merch store. Our favorite item is definitely the player bag clip — collect all of them and be the envy of all your friends.

USWNT suits

The Americans wore their custom menswear-inspired “business” suits again as they headed to Game 3 of group play vs. Portugal -- though Julie Ertz styled hers in the manner of Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, with a hoodie underneath her blazer.

USWNT watch parties near me 

Looking for a watch party for the U.S. women’s national team game against Portugal? U.S. Soccer created a handy dandy map that allows you to find one near wherever you’re located. Check it out.

USWNT World Cup roster 

The 2023 World Cup roster is one of, if not the, most diverse in U.S. women's soccer history. This year marks a passing of the torch, as a new generation of soccer talent makes its World Cup debut and tries to continue the Americans' win streak. Of the 23-player roster, 14 will be playing in their first World Cup. You can learn more about each player from the U.S., as well as some of the standout international stars.

• Goalkeepers: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars); Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage); Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit).

• Defenders: Alana Cook (OL Reign); Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns); Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage); Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave); Sofia Huerta (OL Reign); Kelley O'Hara (NJ/NY Gotham); Emily Sonnett (OL Reign).

• Midfielders: Savannah DeMelo (Racing Louisville); Julie Ertz (Angel City); Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon); Rose Lavelle (OL Reign); Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham); Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit); Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit).

• Forwards: Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave); Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign); Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit); Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns); Alyssa Thompson (Angel City); Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham).

World Cup bracket

Here’s how the 2023 World Cup bracket is set up.

How many groups are in the Women's World Cup?

There are eight groups, four teams per group, with the top two seeds from each group advancing to the knockout round. The groups are as follows:

• Group A: New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Switzerland

• Group B: Australia, Canada, Nigeria, Rep. of Ireland

• Group C: Costa Rica, Japan, Spain, Zambia

• Group D: China, Denmark, England, Haiti

• Group E: Netherlands, Portugal, United States, Vietnam

• Group F: Brazil, France, Jamaica, Panama

• Group G: Argentina, Italy, South Africa, Sweden

• Group H: Colombia, Germany, Morocco, South Korea

Where is the 2023 World Cup being played?

For the first time in women’s World Cup history, the tournament will be hosted by two countries, Australia and New Zealand. (The 2022 men’s World Cup was hosted by Japan and South Korea and in 2026, it will be hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.)

Many people associate Australia and New Zealand with surfing, sandy beaches and stunning swimming spots, all happening in sunny weather. But it’s winter in the southern hemisphere, which means temperatures will be anything but scorching.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA vs Portugal highlights: USWNT advances to World Cup Round of 16