The referee blows his whistle for the final time tonight and the match ends all-square.
90' +1
Lopes is fouled in midfield by an overzealous Bedoya. The free-kick is taken with a pass but Bedoya makes up for his earlier mistake with a booming clearance.
89'
Portugal are maintaining a stranglehold on possession in the late game, but a foul committed by Paciencia gives the United States some breathing room.
87'
The match has become somewhat disjointed and both sides look relatively happy to end the game in a draw. While it has not been 90 minutes of the utmost quality, a number of young players for either side have been able to stake a claim for further call-ups.
84'
A. Bedoya enters the game and replaces W. McKennie.
Alejandro Bedoya, the eldest member of the United States squad, will finish the match on the pitch as he replaces goal-scorer Weston McKennie.
81'
Rony Lopes enters the game and replaces Gonçalo Guedes.
Goncalo Guedes, who has looked extremely promising in this contest, is removed ten minutes before full-time with Monaco's Lopes taking his place.
79'
Bernardo Silva's corner is met by Neto and directed wide of Hamid's goal. A good delivery by the Manchester City wide-man, but Portugal collectively have not taken advantage of the set-pieces they have won.
77'
D. Dwyer enters the game and replaces C. Sapong.
Dwyer is sent on by Sarachan to replace Sapong who has been uninvolved for most of the match.
75'
Gooch once again receives the ball on the left and sends in a cross to the penalty spot, but Sapong is unable to meet it and Beto deals with it relatively easily.
72'
AN ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE SAVE FROM BETO. Gooch crosses the ball from the left and it bounces through to the back-post where Carter-Vickers takes it off the chest and attempts to half-volley it into the net. Beto, not wanting to be undone, clears the danger with a half-volley of his own and manages to get the ball away from Carter-Vickers and far from danger.
Minute
Description
69'
Guedes wriggles free on the right-hand side of the penalty area where he turns and fires a shot which takes the slightest deflection off of DeAndre Yedlin. The ball crashes against the crossbar and out for a corner which is promptly cleared by the organized American defense. More great play from Guedes who looks very dangerous when the ball is at his feet.
67'
Antunes does well to get inside the area and get on the end of Guedes' through-ball but Yedlin is there to put the ball out for a corner.
65'
Bernardo Silva's corner is immediately dealt with by Miazga whose towering header clears the penalty area.
62'
Bernardo Silva enters the game and replaces Bruma.
Rúben Neves enters the game and replaces Danilo Pereira.
Ruben Neves who plies his trade with Wolves in the English Championship replaces Danilo in central midfield.
Manchester City's Bernardo Silva comes on in the place of Bruma who has looked lively tonight.
59'
L. Gooch enters the game and replaces J. Agudelo.
J. Villafaña enters the game and replaces E. Lichaj.
Juan Agudelo is taken off by Lynden Gooch who will make his third international appearance.
Villafana enters the game at left-back in place of Eric Lichaj.
57'
Bruma gets into the penalty area and finds enough room between three American defenders to try a curling effort but he strikes it right at Hamid who deals with it comfortably.
54'
OFF THE BAR FROM MCKENNIE! More action in front of the Portuguese goal as Acosta's corner-kick is directed to the head of McKennie whose header rattles the crossbar. It's still 1-1 but America should feel very unlucky to not be ahead.
51'
A PHENOMENAL SAVE BY BETO KEEPS THE SCORE LEVEL! Williams gets away a great cross from the right and the ball trickles through the legs of a Portuguese defender in the box. Adams gets on the end of it and sends his header towards goal but Beto, diving to his left, gets a fingertip to it and pushes it away.
49'
DeAndre Yedlin gets forward well but gets called for a foul on the edge of the Portuguese box after getting overly physical with Antunes.
46'
Gonçalo Paciência enters the game and replaces Gelson Martins.
B. Hamid enters the game and replaces E. Horvath.
João Mário enters the game and replaces Bruno Fernandes.
C. Carter-Vickers enters the game and replaces J. Brooks.
The second half begins with a substitution, as Joao Mario comes on to replace Bruno Fernandes.
There will be a goalkeeper switch as Bill Hamid takes the place of Ethan Horvath who had a first-half to forget.
John Anthony Brooks is also taken off at the start of the second period, with Cameron Carter-Vickers taking his spot.
The lively Gelson Martins is taken out by Santos, with Paciencia replacing him.
45' +2
The corner-kick falls to an American defender inside the penalty area who promptly heads it away as the referee blows his whistle to signal the end of the first period of play.
45' +1
Gelson wins a free-kick on the edge of the American penalty area after a Miazga foul. Bruno Fernandes takes it but the wall does its job to block the shot and the ball is out for a corner.
45'
Bruma races into the box but Horvath comes out of his goal and dives at the feet of the Portuguese winger and does enough to poke possession away from him. Great goalkeeping by a player who is surely short of confidence at the moment.
America gets the second half underway.
43'
DeAndre Yedlin wins a corner for America and the Acosta set-piece is turned in by Brooks! Unfortunately for him, the referee's whistle blows as Miazga is called for a foul. A wasted opportunity.
41'
Bruma wins a corner after a blistering run down the left which saw him gallop past two American defenders. His final ball is blocked well but the corner amounts to nothing as the keeper rises highest and grabs the ball out of the air.
39'
Antunes puts in another cross, similar to the one which led to the goal, but this time Horvath is confident and collects it well.
37'
That is the first goal conceded by Horvath in international play - his only other cap was in a 2-0 win against Cuba just over a year ago.
34'
Some fantastic work early by the U.S is erased by an awful mistake by the 22-year old Ethan Horvath who is playing in his second match for his national side. The Americans must respond positively, and not let that mistake shift the momentum of the match.
31'
Antunes has scored a goal for Portugal! Assist by Bruno Fernandes.
Bruno Fernandes is given credit for the assist as his pass set up Antunes for the cross-cum-shot.
A TERRIBLE MISTAKE BY THE AMERICAN GOALKEEPER LEADS TO A PORTUGUESE GOAL! Antunes puts in a first-time volleyed cross which goes directly to Horvath but the young shot-stopper lets the ball go through his legs and into the net. He looks distraught as Portugal have now tied the match!
30'
The free-kick does not beat the first man and the US quickly clears to Agudelo who wins a foul after some physical play by Nelson Semedo.
28'
Guedes wins a free-kick after another fantastic jinking run where two American players were unable to stop him.
25'
B. Fernandes plays the corner short but the Americans stay resilient and clear the danger immediately.
24'
Portugal are immediately on the attack after conceding as Bruma wins a corner kick.
21'
W. McKennie has scored a goal for United States! Assist by C. Sapong.
C.J. Sapong receives the assist after playing the ball beautifully through to McKennie.
GOAL FOR WESTON MCKENNIE ON HIS DEBUT! McKennie intercepts the ball in midfield and sprays it to Sapong on the left flank. McKennie continues his run and Sapong finds him inside the box where the debutant cuts inside and beats Beto at his near-post. A fantastic goal and a well-taken finish!
19'
A great try by Acosta who plays a fantastic one-two with Williams before curling an effort wide of Beto's post.
17'
Nelson Semedo loses the ball after some positive build-up play from Portugal. Guedes' slaloming run opened up space for Martins to cross but his pass is mishit on the volley by Bruma and the United States clears easily.
15'
Agudelo takes up a great position on the left-hand side of the Portuguese penalty area, but he is unable to put in a meaningful cross and possession is gifted back to to Fernando Santos' side.
12'
These sides have faced each other six times, with each nation winning two times, losing two times and drawing twice.
10'
Luís Neto enters the game and replaces Pepe.
The injury to Pepe's ankle is serious enough that he will be removed from play, with Luis Neto coming on to replace him.
9'
Play has stopped here as Pepe is down and receiving treatment on his ankle. There is some movement on the bench and it appears that Pepe who is captain tonight will not be able to continue.
7'
Antunes fires in a cross from the left flank but Lichaj is there and he puts the ball out for a Portuguese corner which is easily cleared by Miazga.
6'
The United States are starting much the brighter, looking relatively comfortable in possession and are pressing Portugal relentlessly. It is certainly looking positive for a US side who have not taken the field since losing to Trinidad and Tobago.
3'
Acosta intercepts a lazy pass in the Portuguese defensive third but he skies the ball high over Beto's goal. The United States are pressing high and forcing Portugal into a number of turnovers early on in this match.
1'
Portugal get us underway in Leiria attacking from right to left .
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of the international friendly between Portugal and the United States from the Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa in Leiria.
A new permanent manager will follow February’s election for United States Soccer Federation president, but for the meantime Sarachan has assembled a squad full of youthful exuberance with 30-year old Alejandro Bedoya the oldest member of the squad. Though they do not have a tournament to prepare for, the United States will use this match to lay the foundation for the next generation of international footballers.
Portugal substitutes: Kevin Rodrigues, Joao Mario, Ruben Neves, Anthony Lopes, Andre Silva, Goncalo Paciencia, Edgar Ie, Jose Sa, Bernardo Silva, Rony Lopes, Neto, Joao Cancelo.
Portugal Starting XI (4-3-3): Beto; Antunes, Ricardo Ferreira, Pepe, Nelson Semedo; Bruno Fernandes, Danilo Pereira, Manuel Fernandes; Bruma, Goncalo Guedes, Gelson Martins.
United States substitutes: Bill Hamid, Jesse Gonzalez, Tim Ream, Kelyn Rowe, Alejandro Bedoya, Dom Dwyer, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Lynden Gooch, Jorge Villafana.
United States Starting XI (4-5-1): Ethan Horvath; DeAndre Yedlin, Matt Miazga, John Brooks, Eric Lichaj; Tyler Adams, Kellyn Acosta, Danny Williams, Weston McKennie, Juan Agudelo, C.J. Sapong.
Fernando Santos opts for a formation change from the 4-4-2 that was employed in Portugal’s previous friendly against Saudi Arabia. Beto will start in net instead of Anthony Lopes and will be playing behind a back-four featuring Antunes, Ricardo Ferreira, Pepe and Nelson Semedo – with Pepe being the only defender to start both matches. Bruno Fernandes will play in the place of Joao Mario, alongside Danilo Pereira and Manuel Fernandes, both of whom began the match against Saudi Arabia on the pitch. Goncalo Guedes keeps his role as central striker, though Bernardo Silva and Andre Silva make way for Bruma and Gelson Martins who will start on the left and right of Guedes respectively.
Portugal come into this contest having won eight of their last 10 international matches, including a decisive 2-0 victory over Switzerland in World Cup qualifying. Having finished first in their group with only one loss, the defending European Cup champions are in a rich vein of form. With four consecutive clean sheets, Fernando Santos has successfully fashioned a squad resolute in defence. The Portuguese will use this friendly as a tune-up before next year’s World Cup finals in Russia; their opponents however, cannot say the same.
It has been a turbulent year in football for the United States of America. Despite only two defeats in their last 10 matches, the US failed to qualify from the hexagonal stage of CONCACAF and have thus missed out on the World Cup finals. A final day defeat to Trinidad and Tobago sealed their unlikely fate. Coached during a part of that campaign by Bruce Arena who has since resigned, the US Men’s National Team is now guided in the interim by Dave Sarachan.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, the team news has been announced. Let's begin with the home side.
As expected, the United States squad is almost unrecognisable from Bruce Arena’s last match in charge. Sarachan has made ten changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago with only Newcastle full-back DeAndre Yedlin keeping his place. He will line up in defence alongside centre-back pairing of Matt Miazga and John Brooks who missed most of the CONCACAF Hex phase through injury. Opposite Yedlin, at left full-back is Eric Lichaj. In midfield, Adams and Juan Agudelo will play the flanks, with Kellyn Acosta, debutant Winston McKennie and captain Danny Williams playing centrally. The striker today will be C.J. Sapong who will be the lone attacker.
HALF-TIME: Portugal 1-1 United States.
America certainly started the brighter of the two sides, forcing Portugal into a number of turnovers in front of their own penalty area and controlling the tempo of play. Portugal was reduced to the odd counter-attack and did not look comfortable when on the ball. Their efforts were rewarded with a brilliant McKennie goal on his first international appearance. The momentum shifted abruptly after the Portuguese equalizer which was fortunate to say the least. A volleyed cross from Antunes managed to squirm its way underneath Horvath's body and into the back of the net.
Portugal seemed to play with a lot more freedom after leveling the score, as the attacking trident of Guedes, Bruma and Gelson Martins had a number of opportunities to run at the American defense, leaving them well behind a number of times. While Guedes has not received the necessary service to score, he has looked lively on the ball, displaying a number of tricks and skills which garnered his side a number of free-kicks.
It has been an entertaining half and despite the fact that the United States will not be travelling to Russia in 2018, they have performed admirably against the defending European Cup champions. Each manager should be confident in their side’s chances of winning the match, and with a number of substitutions for either side likely - fresh legs could be the catalyst for victory.
FULL-TIME: Portugal 1 - 1 United States.
An exciting first-half gave way to a disjointed second period. Both Santos and Sarachan made use of their numerous substitutions and the constant changing of players diminished any chance of either side hitting a rhythm. Both teams acquitted themselves well in this contest - especially the United States who are looking to begin a new youthful cycle after the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup in 2018.
In the end it looked like a game neither side wanted to lose, and Portugal should count themselves slightly fortunate as their equaliser was the result of poor goalkeeping rather than exciting build-up play. Goncalo Guedes looked exceptionally promising for the Portuguese side, firing a shot off the crossbar in the second half. Winston McKennie for the United States was also a stand-out, scoring in his international debut.
America have already scheduled their next friendly match, and will begin 2018 with a contest against Bosnia-Herzegovina in California. Portugal have yet to announce any further games to prepare them for next years' World Cup.
Thank you for following along with our live-text commentary of the international friendly between Portugal and the United States. We hope you enjoyed the match and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
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