Women’s World Cup 2023: On Tuesday, the United States team won the ticket for the knockout stages of the World Cup against debutant Portugal, who knew how to neutralize the virtues of the Americans in a match tied and worked from the order in which the best opportunity was the Portuguese in extra time.
Women’s World Cup 2023
The U.S. went into the hunt for qualification for the knockout stages with two lineup changes from the Vietnam and Netherlands matches: Rose Lavelle (who misses the next game due to card accumulation) started in midfield in place of Savannah DeMelo and Lynn Williams took over in place of Trinity Rodman.
The U.S. went into the hunt for qualification for the knockout stages with two lineup changes from the Vietnam and Netherlands matches: Rose Lavelle (who misses the next game due to card accumulation) started in midfield in place of Savannah DeMelo and Lynn Williams took over in place of Trinity Rodman.
For its part, Portugal depended on itself to get through the round in its World Cup debut and was aware from the start that it had a unique opportunity to make history. The Portuguese started the game against the Americans attentively, which was worth the draw, but the four-time champion did not want to settle for a draw and sought to win to pass as the first group ahead of the Netherlands. Women’s World Cup 2023
With personality, the Portuguese team tried to seize the ball while the United States, despite not being comfortable, could finish up to three times in the first seven minutes. A stubborn Lynn Williams, who was making his World Cup debut, was caught by Pereira, while Alex Morgan’s chances were deflected by the rival behind. Women’s World Cup 2023
The United States wanted to avoid scaring or allowing the Portuguese team to have the ball with adequate suffocating pressure. Despite the American power, Portugal was not intimidated. Also, it had their chances with a dangerous Jessica Silva on the right wing and a throw from Norton after a kick that went high.
After the first fifteen minutes, the equality was total, although the United States reached Pereira’s goal with more precision and danger, who caught a Williams cross aimed at Alex Morgan.
The United States could not embarrass Portugal, which comfortably endured the American attacks and challenged the world power from a tactical standpoint. In the final minutes, Kika Nazareth tried to surprise Naeher with a long shot that missed the crossbar. Women’s World Cup 2023
The first act ended without great clear chances of danger, and after the break, the American physical strength began to make the difference.
Alex Morgan had the most straightforward chance of the game in minute 54 when he dodged around Pereira and took a lopsided shot that Diana Gomes cleared under the sticks.
From the set pieces, the United States began to bother Portugal. Still, the Americans could not find the effectiveness, and Vlatko Andonovski brought on Megan Rapinoe in the 61st minute in search of the goal. When it seemed that Portugal was getting increasingly tired, the Portuguese drew strength and showed their hard-worked football to tense up the Americans.
The Americans looked for victory until the end with a shot from Alex Morgan that caught Pereira and Portugal, which revived with the changes, too.
Capeta smashed the ball onto the post in extra time, but the debutants ran out of time to look for the goal against a world power that scratched the seconds on the clock.
