In the second minute, Rui Costa showed his
skill to the Americans with a nutmeg but they weren't put out of their stride and answered
back by taking the lead.
-- GOAL -- 1-0
In the third minute, John O'Brien followed up on a McBride header that
Vitor Baia could only palm away to his left.
America continued to press the Portuguese and
even showed some class on the ball themselves in the 17th minute. A subtle flick from
McBride released Landon Donovan on the left and Jorge Costa needed to get in front of the
diving Baia to knock the low cross out of play.
Vitor Baia had a lot of early problems and
seemed to lack confidence with any aerial threat from corners.
Three minutes later, Rui Costa floated in a
free-kick from the left. Pauleta lost his markers on a run to the near post and almost ate
his shirt after heading wide.
In the next Portugal attack, Luis Figo showed
he was still a little out of condition by getting easily squashed off the ball by Pablo
Mastroeni and DaMarcus Beasley.
-- GOAL -- 2-0
Landon Donovan shocked Portugal by getting a lucky deflection off the back of Jorge Costa,
on his cross from the left, that beat the wrong-footed Vitor Baia to give America a two
goal advantage -- Own goal, 29 mins.
At the other end Brad Friedel had little to do
apart from take a few goal-kicks.
-- GOAL -- 3-0
Vitor Baia's nightmare continued in the 36th minute when Brian McBride
headed in an excellent cross, from Tony Sanneh on the right.
-- GOAL -- 3-1
Portugal were relieved to get a goal back a few minutes later, when Luis Figo's corner
from the right was headed down by Beto. Goalscorer McBride stretched a foot out but the
ball returned to Beto who reacted quickly to make sure of the target.
Half-time: United States 3 --
Portugal 1
America continued to hustle Portugal at the
start of the second-half and even Baia had to come out of his area to head away danger.
Portugal did have a very good chance to close
the gap when a 56th minute corner, from Figo on the left, fell to Jorge Costa with his
back to the goal -- just in front of Brad Friedel -- but he failed to turn the
half-opening into the net.
Portugal tried to step up a gear in the last
half an hour and benefitted from another American mistake.
-- GOAL -- 3-2
Own goal number two occurred when Jeff Agoos volleyed a left-wing cross
from Pauleta past his own goalkeeper.
Two fairly lucky goals helped Portugal back
into the game but Nuno Gomes was was brought on too late to make a difference; especially
as America tried to drag the game out, deep in the Portugal half, with time-wasting
tactics -- DaMarcus Beasley making it into the referee's notebook, just before the
whistle, for doing just that.
Final Score:
United States 3 -- Portugal 2
