MANAUS, Brazil (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo set up Varela for a late equalizer on a hot and humid night in the jungle Sunday to give the Portugal a 2-2 draw with the United States and hope for a spot in the second round of the World Cup.
Ronaldo, who has been playing despite a left knee injury, sent in a cross in the fifth minute of stoppage time and Varela scored with a diving header in the last seconds of the match.
Nani had scored first for Portugal, shooting past a sprawling Tim Howard in the fifth minute, but the Americans responded in the second half as Portugal seemed to wilt in the stifling heat.
Jermaine Jones made it 1-1 with a curling shot in the 64th minute after a cross from Graham Zusi made its way through the Portugal defense.
Clint Dempsey, playing with a broken nose, then put the Americans ahead in the 81st. The United States captain used his stomach to direct the ball into the net from a cross by Zusi.
Group G Standings
Wins
Losses
Draws
Goals For
Goals Against
Points
Germany
1
0
1
6
2
4
United States
1
0
1
4
3
4
Ghana
0
1
1
3
4
1
Portugal
0
1
1
2
6
1
Schedule and results
Monday, June 16 – Germany 4, Portugal 0 at Salvador
Monday, June 16 – United States 2, Ghana 1 at Natal
Saturday, June 21 –Germany 2, Ghana 2 at Fortaleza
Sunday, June 22 – Portugal 2, United States 2 at Manaus
Thursday, June 26 – Noon: Germany vs United States at Recife
Thursday, June 26 – Noon: Portugal vs Ghana at Brasilia