mtl008 Chapter 455
Chapter 455
Germany endured a tough game, playing 90 minutes against the African Lions, and didn't decide until the end of the match.
After this game, Germany has 6 points and is almost certain to qualify, while Ghana is still 0 points and has almost decided to go home.
Later, another match of the group was played on this field, with the United States against Portugal.
The U.S. beat Ghana 2-1 in the first round to accumulate three points and are currently fourth in the group, and will almost qualify with a draw.
Portugal lost 5-1 to Germany in the first round and is still bottom of the table, and there is almost no way back except to win this game if they want to qualify smoothly.
Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal's starting line-up, and after some retouching, the players all looked radiant and seemed to have gained a new lease of life.
Compared with Portugal, the American team does not have a star as dazzling as Ronaldo, and their 23 people are all average, the level is comparable, and they are not low.
In less than 5 minutes of the opening, the pass of the Portuguese wing was cleared by the United States, but this release ball did not kick far, was taken by Cristiano Ronaldo who was guarding the big penalty area, the Portuguese star did not hesitate, adjusted a step and directly got up and volleyed
, the distance was too close, the goalkeeper was caught off guard, and the ball went in!
Portugal opens with a lead and a dream start!
Portugal fans and players are crazy as it was the team's second-place goal, and by scoring early, they can be more determined to follow the tactics previously arranged by the manager.
This ball is regarded as a mistake by an American defender, and for such a big package, Ronaldo has no reason not to laugh!
Although Portugal scored first, the United States firmly controlled the pace in the following game, especially the midfield penetration.
The United States team also carefully studied the match between Portugal and Germany, firmly limiting the wing of Ronaldo, and Nani was naturally not in the plan because of the red card suspension.
The Portuguese midfielder did not have the upper hand against the American midfielder, and Portugal's attack became ugly, with few decent shots on goal when Cristiano Ronaldo's side was defended.
On the other hand, the United States frequently threatens the Portuguese goal, and Portuguese goalkeeper Patricio has become one of the busiest players on the game.
Half an hour on, the United States has had eight shots on goal, seven on goal, while Portugal has only two, including Cristiano Ronaldo's goal.
In Zhang Lu's words, in terms of paper strength, Portugal is stronger than the United States, and when it really fights, Portugal seems to have lost 1:5 to Germany.
In the last minute of the first half, the Portuguese team's attack suddenly became ferocious
, Ronaldo was touched by goalkeeper Howard outside the penalty area line, the ball trajectory was folded and the goal post bounced back, the
Portuguese midfielder followed up with a burst, and the goalkeeper Howard sitting on the ground instantly bounced up and dragged the ball out of the goal crossbar with one hand.
It was Portugal's most threatening shot of the first half besides scoring, do you dare think?
Portugal ended the first half with a 1-0 lead and neither side made substitutions after the start of the second half.
After Pinto's guidance, Portugal played a little more fluidly in the second half, getting two shots on goal shortly after the opening.
Compared to Portugal, the midfield advantage of the United States was still evident in the second half.
In the 56th minute, American team winger Altidor dribbled the ball to the bottom line, he got rid of the full-back defending himself before
, the Portuguese goalkeeper thought that Altidor was going to shoot directly, decisively pounced on
him, in the moment the goalkeeper approached him, Altidor shook his feet and sent
the ball to the center, and the American midfielder Bradley who inserted at high speed in the middle accurately received the ball and pushed in the face of the empty goal,
Full-back Coentrão appeared on Bradley's line of shooting like a prophet and blocked this inevitable shot with his foot!
Portugal dodged and the USA missed their best chance since opening!
In the 63rd minute, the United States won a corner kick on the right wing, and Bradley drove the ball to Jermaine Jones outside the penalty area.
Jones took a step to the right, dodged the Portuguese player who blocked in front of him, and picked up his foot to shoot.
Jones's shot was so sudden that the goalkeeper's view was obscured by a group of players in front of him, and he didn't know where the ball flew over, and it was obviously too late to react when he saw the ball.
The ball went in! Jones's cold shot hit the goalkeeper stunned.
The United States equalised 1-1, Portugal led for almost an hour and failed to extend the scoreline, and a one-goal lead was not a safe score.
Judging from the slow-motion replay, Jones's shot hit a dead corner, and the goalkeeper simply didn't have time to react, if the angle was not so tricky, maybe the goalkeeper could reach out and touch it.
The American players are crazy, and so are the American fans in the stands! If they end with this scoreline, they will most likely be second in the group, even if they cannot beat Germany in the final round.
With a first-round defeat to Germany, Portugal would struggle to finish second in the group even if they could beat Ghana in the last match, and they had to step up their attack, with Pinto replaced by a front-court attacker after the equaliser.
In the 81st minute, the American midfielder divided the ball
to the right wing, the right wing player crossed, the ball was first stabbed by central defender Pepe, kicked outside the box
, however, Pepe's kick kicked the ball to the United States player
Bradley, Bradley failed to get up and shoot at the first time, with a less standard movement to the left
The player on the left did not
immediately get up and shoot at most of the empty goal, but sent the ball to the Portuguese goal, and the striker Dempsey ran to that position and slammed the ball into the empty goal with his stomach.
The Portuguese players raised their hands to signal that Dempsey was offside, however, the referee's gesture was firmly pointed to the center circle, and the goal was effective!
1:2 Team USA overtook it!
Judging from the slow-motion replay, because the fallen Pepe dragged at the end, the goalkeeper was not the last defender at the moment of passing.
The lineman has a golden eye, there is no problem with this ball at all!
The clock ticks, and if you lose this game, Portugal and Ghana will be eliminated directly.
I don't know if the American team became conservative because of the lead, or the Portuguese team broke the cauldron and became bloody, and in the last few minutes, the Portuguese team rarely pressed the American team to beat wildly.
The injury stop is not the last tens of seconds, Ronaldo sent an oblique long pass to the US team on the right side of the penalty area, and
the small forward Varela who has just come on the field jumps to the top and reads the seconds!
At 2:2, this heart-wrenching offensive battle was over, and both sides finally scored 1 point each.
With
Germany out with 6 points, Ghana with 0 points, the United States with 4 points, Portugal with 1 point
, Portugal as long as they win the final game against Ghana and Germany defeat the United States, they may grab the second place in the group.
Loew and other members of the coaching staff stayed to watch Portugal and the United States, which, in his words, are an opponent not to be taken lightly, with the two teams directly vying for top spot in the group.