US stumble into knockout stages after 0-0 draw with Portugal

AUCKLAND : The United States held on by a thread to keep their Women's World Cup title defence alive on Tuesday, stumbling into the knockout stages with a 0-0 draw against debutants Portugal at Eden Park.

The four-times champions were playing with everything on the line but spurned several chances to find the net and the addition of veteran Megan Rapinoe in the second half did little to turn things around against a physical Portugal defence.

They survived a huge scare in stoppage time when Ana Capeta hit the post and another fright when Capeta won a free kick just outside the box a few minutes later but held on through the nerve-searing final minutes of the affair.

The United States move on to the last 16 in Melbourne, where they will almost certainly face Sweden, after finishing in second place in Group E behind the Netherlands.