A number of players with local ties, Weah from NYC, Pulisic his father, Berhalter his mother and Freese of NYCFC are to start, Weah now moved up field, Puli the most forward of players. Scally we hope does get some time, he and mother are local products. We were at a game, missing the last. Portugal is better than their last opponent so if they play the same, it will be worse, no shame in losing by 2 goals max.
The kickoff goes back, then long and over the US endline. Portugal gives up a run, the GK steps up to kick it away to Weah and it is lost then recovered a few shots were not taken, finally one floated to the GK. Fron the bottom of the circle to Freese. Portugal down the line, into the area, headed out now Weah for Puli and it is lost. Puli gets a lead ball, to the wing and in, cleared out by Portugal. Robinson gets forward inside to Berhalter and it was off well before. Puli in the area, he lays it off not shot but back to him and saved. US corner at 6’. McKennie gets on the end of the Berhalter corner and his header is a bit wide. A long ball back appeared to be out, the AR was behind the play and the US holds. From their offensive third to the GK goes the US. Shot and what a save by Freese he stops a rocket from just beyond the 6. Portugal corner at 9’. A lot of pushing in the 6. Taken short and again to the edge of the 6 and touchline, nodded out by Berhalter, but was offside. This play was done as the US simply did not cover. Weah outside into Puli, his ball defended and he tracks it down, Morris out to Puli, Weah in the wing gets it and goes back now from Freeman to Richards, all the way across and 50 yards away. Weah on the wing goes in to Puli, his ball is lost. Fernandes goes endline, plays it in, sent out for another corner at 12’. This one goes near post top of the 6, Richards heads clear Portugal takes it, goes outside, across and now just below the center circle. Across the area and Freese got a finger to it, Portugal throw. Another ball across to the top of the 6, headed well over the bar. Portugal get a throw and just send it forward, Richards gets it and sends well forward of any of his players. Portugal GK sends it down field to Freese. Puli looks to go inside and plays it to the feet of a defender, the US get it in the area and Weah passes to a white top. US presses, win the ball then lose it to a hard tackle on Morris. Quickly getting forward and Trusty tackles it out at 25 yards. US win it between the circle and area, then play it out, Portugal throw goes back to the GK. US wins a tackle at midfield. Over the top by US and Weah is high but was called off anyway. Tillman called for a foul as he gets megged. Portugal pressing a bit not letting the US get forward. Weah on a long ball from Tillman, past Puli & McKennie in the area, Berhalter from a distance forces the GK to full extension and a 2nd save. Robinson steps up to break up a pass but down, US do not hold. Into the area and up, Freeman puts it over the endline for the next corner by the visitors. Richards nods it out from the top of the 6, back in and over the endline. Over this first half hour, the US have acquitted themselves well. Portugal get a throw out of a defended pass in the neutral zone, they hold, go to their backfield. The US pressing, Puli and the pressure causes a high ball. Portugal holds into the area and Richards blocks a ball in, Portugal holds. Tillman steals twice and it gets to Freeman as he attacks a ball to Weah is all but lost, US win a throw deep in their offensive third. Freeman just beyond the area. McKennie hit as he goes across the field, off his feet he is hit, a yellow at 34’ Robinson and Berhalter over the ball just yards from the touchline just off the endline, to Puli first time shot blocked, reeled in by Morris, he lays it off and gets it back. Freeman carries, lays to Puli, his long shot just wide. US get dispossessed and they just go on goal, lay it back and go up 1-0. Just a pair of passes and goal, great shot and just like that the good work by the US is gone. Trincao nets one off the assist of Fernandes. The US have taken a few shots and were off the mark on a pair of great looks. Too many short passes by the US going nowhere but lost. Down the wing go the US a bit, in the return ball lost. Robinson gathers a loose ball, has a long shot that is well wide. Pulisic appeared to be fouled in front of the ref, no call, he then takes a player down and the boo birds are out and a few come at Puli. Weah with a ball from Puli, a piece of skill nicked out for a throw. Weah into the area, out for a corner at 43’. A pair of players at the ball, Robinson to Berhalter shot out to Tillman far but in the center of the goal, much too high. He hit it on the way down but finished with his foot going high. Puli beats a pair, lays it to McKennie he falls and loses it in the area, they were far too close to each other. A quartet of minutes in stoppage time to come. Tillman gets a ball from McKennie and Puli cannot get to it. Ramos beats one, but plays it too far beyond Richards and over the byline. Pulisic holds too long, fouls and gets a yellow in the area. He had a few times to shoot carried further, worse angle, extends to trip the player, foolish foul in extra time no less.
Arfstan, Agyeman and Tessman are in, 7 changes for the visitors. McKennie. Knocking around in the area and a foul is called. I have no idea on the fouls in such forward positions by the US players? Arfsten steals to Berhalter he seeks to go inside and it is lost. Berhalter called for a hard foul from behind. US steals a pass only to clear it out near midfield. Still just yards apart from each other as they try to pass and the US cannot move the ball. Arfstan pulled down deep in the US end. A long ball out to a player with an opponent draped all over him, why. Morris steals it near the top of the area, he hits a weak shot on a turn at the GK. The US is being penned in by the pressure. There is just not enough movement to find an open player. Literally 2-3 yard passes doing nothing and a long ball is lost. Players seeking a back pass to be called rather than pressing the ball to the GK. Replay shows the back pass, handled was intentional. Bruno goes long, Arfstan recovers and they go well back, now forward and confusion in the attack of Portugal as the shot is wide. Mendes left alone by Weah and he plays it in Trusty clears and now to the defensive half of Portugal. Freeman goes to ground facing Mendes and sends it out for a corner. To the top of the key, with time he waits for it to drop then it is sent home off a deflection by Felix and off the post. To leave a player open at the top of the arc like that is inexcusable. Portugal with another run and Trusty sends it out for a throw very deep. Paulhino in for Ramos at 61’. Weah stuffed from a distance hits him last out for a goal kick. The subs of Portugal are having their way with it. Neves with a rocket from a distance, has Freese diving across to parry it away. Another corner at 64’. Taken to the far side of the area, headed out near half field, Portugal have it. Felix lofts one in, Frees takes it and here come the US, they pull it back from the top of the area to below the circle. Scally of Lake Grove is said to be up. Lost and now into the US area, blocked out for a throw. Balogun also is ready. Weah and Tillman are out. From the back line to the area and the first time shot is off target by Portugal. There is pressure by Portugal but the bigger issue is the lack of movement, looking to pass a few yards with 2 opponents nearby. Here the US give up another corner at 75’. Top of the area headed to the top of the area, Feliz sends it in but far wide. Neves takes a pass laid off to Berhalter as he was feet away. Into the area and across to the feet of Berhalter go Portugal. Reyna is now up and getting direction along with Aaronson and Roldan. Arfstan for Agyeman on the endline he beats a man but Balogun plays it over the endline. Berhalter and Morris out as is Freeman. So one with LI ties out, another in. Again a tiro of US players in the same space, 5 yards apart? Reyna looks into the area and Balogun is down, taking the ball off his face. Trusty is down and Pooch has words with the 4th official. Balogun springs Aaronson, laid in back to him, he skies his shot. More changes for Portugal including in goal. Roldan called for a foul. Reyna passes up, to Balogun, a few have it, no shot taken and Richards whistled for a foul again deep in their offensive end. US grabs a jersey near to the top of the area on the touchline, again a deep foul. As Portugal change the GK, I would hope the US sends a few hopeful balls on goal ASAP. Over the top and 20 yards ahead of any US player at 86’. As the subs for Portugal have ramped up the pressure, the US ones seem out of synch. A rocket from Portugal from a bad angle but it was a dangerous shot on net. Felix feeds his runner and Trusty is down waving for help as he has leg pain. Trusty out for McKenzie. Through ball springs Portugal and Freese up to the challenge as he steers it clear of the goal. Mendes looks in, sent out, the shot back on goal is very high. Still making short passes, so 4 in one area and they expect to get the ball back?