Portugal draw with US with last minute goal

Andy Goldberg, dpa

Portugal and the US split the points in a hard-fought 2-2 draw in Manaus which sets up a tantalising final round in Group G with Germany and Ghana in which any of the four teams could go through. 

However with the both the US and Germany on four points compared to the one each for Ghana and Portugal, the latter teams will be out of the World Cup if the US and Germany draw in the final game of the round.

In a see-saw battle the US looked to have done enough to send Portugal and its captain Cristiano Ronaldo out of the tournament. But the world player of the year found a last-minute cross to Valera to head home and keep the team in the tournament. 

Portugal took the lead in the fifth minute when Miguel Veloso crossed in a harmless ball from the left. But US centre-half Geoff Cameron sliced his clearance horribly, and the ball fell to Nani at the far post, who had plenty of time to pick his spot and thump the ball past a helpless Tim Howard in the US goal.

The US were quick to press for the equalizer with full back Fabien Johnson charging down the right wing - winning a free kick which Dempsey hit just over. Dempsey went close again the 17th minute when his shot forced Beto to parry for a corner. From the resulting kick the ball again fell to the US captain but his clever lob was just a little heavy. 

The US kept threatening, with Bradley, Johnson and Jones all going close. At the same time they were keeping Ronaldo quiet and the famous number 7 had to wait till the 37th minute for his first shot - a meek long range effort straight at Howard. It was the only shot Portugal had managed to that point besides the goal, compared to eight for the US.

But as the first half drew to a close Portugal almost doubled their lead, with Nani powering a shot on to the post and Howard somehow sticking out his had to divert Eder's rebound over the bar.

The US should have equalized in the 55th minute, when good work down the right left Michael Bradley open in front of goal with the goalie out of position. But the US midfielder snatched at his shot and Ricardo Costa managed to clear off the line.

At the other end Ronaldo's misfiring continued. A break found him bearing down on Howard but the normally lethal striker blasted high and wide from inside the box.

The equaliser came from a US corner which fell to Jermaine Jones 25 metres out. He hit one of the shots of the tournament which left Beto rooted to his spot as it flew inside his left post. 

Dempsey put the US ahead with his second goal of the tournament in the 81st minute when he diverted in a cross shot from Graham Zusi. 

But Ronaldo had the last laugh with his cross for Valera to score the equalizer with almost the last touch of the game