Jermaine Jones left and Michael Bradley congratulate each other after the U.S. advanced to the knockout round on Thursday despite a 1 0 loss to Germany. Associated Press
Recife Brazil
Sometimes a narrow loss is nearly as good as a win. Sometimes the greatest player in the world wrecks your day. Sometimes he saves your rear.
On one of the weirdest and tensest days in U.S. soccer history the U.S. men's national team advanced to the knockout round of the World Cup by one of the slightest margins possible.
The U.S. lost 1 0 to Germany on Thursday but the Americans made it to the World Cup's round of 16 on goal differential as Portugal defeated Ghana 2 1. WSJ sports editor Geoff Foster explains the victory on the News Hub with Sara Murray. Photo Getty Images.
The U.S. lost 1 0 to Germany here on Thursday afternoon. But Portugal's concurrent 2 1 win over Ghana more than 1 000 miles away in Bras lia sent the Americans to the round of 16 a destination that seemed inevitable a few days ago but transformed into one of the great nail biters in recent U.S. sports history. Portugal and the U.S. finished even on points in Group G this year's Group of Death at four apiece but the U.S. had an even goal differential while Portugal finished with minus 3. The U.S. will play next on Tuesday in Salvador against the Group H winner Belgium.
The loss equals a win result was the exclamation point on a bizarre day.
The players awoke to a deluge that flooded this city on the northeast coast of Brazil and prevented many of their families from even making it to the stadium. They weren't allowed to warm up on the field for fear it would damage the spongelike grass. They spent the final half hour of the game getting score updates on the Portugal Ghana game while trying to hold off one of the most fearsome and skilled teams on the planet. Athletes programmed to focus only on winning were desperate for a tie and once Portugal had a lead simply needed to avoid a lopsided loss.
Can Team USA withstand an assault from the energetic Team Belgium Jeff Agoos former U.S. men's soccer team player and the technical director for Major League Soccer in New York joins Lunch Break with Tanya Rivero with his insights. Photo Getty
As much as you want to go and push the game you also have to be smart because a draw gets you through said captain Clint Dempsey. It's not like a normal game.
This especially rang true once Ghana pulled even with Portugal setting the stage for the Black Stars to eliminate the U.S. with one more goal. Defender Matt Besler who was getting score updates from goalkeeper Tim Howard saw coach Chris Woods flash a 2 1 score with his fingers to Howard though without saying which team had scored. I looked at Tim and I was like 'Well that doesn't help us very much ' Besler said. Then I saw him give the thumbs up Besler said of the sign that let him know Portugal was on top.
When the U.S. game ended the Americans shook hands and wandered around the middle of the field waiting for the official word. It came about 90 seconds later and they limped over to the corner of the stadium to applaud the thousands of drenched fans who have followed them for the last 11 days.
It's a huge achievement for our team to come through the group and qualify said U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann formerly a star player and coach for the German team. Tricky is how Klinsmann described the match. It wasn't too easy to handle mentally.
It was tougher physically. Playing in a downpour before a sold out crowd at Arena Pernambuco and with millions watching back home the Americans bent then broke giving up the game's only goal in the 55th minute. They survived on the strength of last week's last minute win against Ghana as well as their heart wrenching tie with Portugal Sunday night ultimately progressing thanks to Germany's 4 0 rout of Portugal that began Group G play.
With an unprecedented level of attention on this team and this sport advancing from a brutal group is considered one of the biggest accomplishments in the history of the American men's game.
After a scoreless first half that felt like a game of survival for the U.S. Germany's Thomas Muller broke the draw with a rocket from just inside the penalty area in the 55th minute. That answered any pregame questions that the Germans might take it easy in the second half and settle for a tie which also would have won them the group.
The goal occurred just moments before Ghana drew even with Portugal bring the Black Stars within a goal of sending the U.S. home. But Cristiano Ronaldo whose brilliant cross in the final seconds on Sunday prevented a seemingly certain U.S. victory scored in the 80th minute.
For chunks of the match the Germans moved the ball back and forth across the field at will sending defenders to join the attack which made it seem like they were playing with a 12th man. Whenever an American got the ball the Germans quickly surrounded him with two or three men.
The U.S. managed just one shot on goal for the entire match. Just getting into German territory looked like a victory Germany dominated possession holding the ball for 63% of the game.
And yet when the U.S. looked up at the scoreboard at halftime they were somehow in a deadlock and just a goal behind when it was over.
We were the dominating team during the entire match said Germany coach Joachim L w a close friend and prot g of Klinsmann. We were very organized very aggressive. Until the very last moment we didn't give them a chance to score.
The result was a strategic victory for the U.S. which somehow emerged from a group that also included Portugal the world's fourth ranked team and Ghana which has a history of thwarting the U.S.
Ahead lies Belgium which won all three of its group stage games. Team USA doesn't sound intimidated.
It's nice to play big teams and big players said Jermaine Jones the German American midfielder who has been the team's best player in Brazil. He and his teammates he says are hungry.
U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard right and teammates celebrate qualifying for the knockout round after a 1 0 loss to Germany. Associated Press
Write to Matthew Futterman at matthew.futterman wsj.com
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