The United States Women’s National Team successfully advanced past the group stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and onto the knockout stage with a narrow 0-0 draw against Portugal. But the team was very close to being eliminated from the tournament on Tuesday.
The match was scoreless throughout the duration of the match despite chances from both teams, but the best scoring opportunity for either team actually came in stoppage time when a Portugal breakaway nearly gave the team a go-ahead goal over the United States.
After a header flicked the ball to Portugal striker Ana Copeta, she had a quick run at the goal and unleashed a shot that easily beat the goalkeeper. For a minute, it looked as if she had given Portugal a goal that would lift them onto the knockout stage and eliminate the two-time defending champion United States team from the tournament altogether.
But unfortunately for her and Portugal, the shot bounced off the post.
Portugal was this close 😬 pic.twitter.com/UMIZnAqyib
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 1, 2023
Portugal hits the post in stoppage time 😱 pic.twitter.com/PooU3ejT66
— ESPN (@espn) August 1, 2023
Had the shot gone in, it likely would have ended the United States’ run through the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as the team would not have had much time to score an equalizer.
That was the best chance Portugal got the entire game and the United States was able to hold onto a 0-0 draw to advance out of the group stage and onto the knockout round.
But it certainly wasn’t easy for the USWNT.
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