USA DRAW

Foto: AP

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANAUS -- Gol telat yang dicetak Varela menyelamatkan Portugal dari kekalahan. Selecao das Quinas akhirnya bisa sedikit bernafas lega usai Varela menyamakan kedudukan menjadi 2-2 pada masa perpanjangan waktu lawan Amerika Serikat (AS) di Arena Amazonia, Senin (23/6) pagi WIB.

Memanfaatkan umpan silang Cristiano Ronaldo, Varela dengan sundulannya mampu membuat jutaan pendukung tim Paman Sam batal merayakan kemenangan. Kekalahan di laga perdana Grup G melawan Jerman membuat Portugal menargetkan poin penuh untuk mengamankan peluang lolos ke babak 16 besar Piala Dunia 2014.

Berbagai upaya serangan dilakukakan sejak pluit babak pertama dibunyikan. Melalui motor serangan pemain terbaik dunia, Ronaldo, Portugal bermain impresif. Hasilnya sudah terlihat pada menit kelima. Tembakan Nani dari dalam kotak penalti tidak dapat dibendung kiper AS, Tim Howard.

Tersentak gol Nani, AS juga bermain terbuka. Jual beli serangan dilakukan kedua tim, sayangnya pada menit ke-16 Helder Postiga tidak mampu melanjutkan permainan karena terjadi benturan antar pemain. Postiga pun dan digantikan Eder.

Menjelang babak pertama berakhir, Portugal semakin gencar melakukan serangan. Namun, penampilan baik Howard di bawah mistar menggagalkan sejumlah peluang, skor 1-0 bertahan hingga turun minum.

Di babak kedua AS akhirnya berhasil menyamakan kedudukan berkat gol yang diciptakan Jermain Jones di menit ke-64. Tendangan jarak jauhnya dari luar kotak penalti memanfaatkan kemelut didepan gawang gagal dihentikan penjaga gawang Portugal, Beto. 

Bahkan, AS sukses membalikkan kedudukan atas portugal melalui Dempsey menjelang akhir pertandingan. Gol tersebut tepatnya terjadi pada menit ke-81, Sang Kapten mampu melepaskan diri dari jebakan offside dan dengan dadanya ia mengubah arah bola hasil umpan silang dari sisi kiri.

Dengan hasil imbang 2-2 ini, AS belum dipastikan lolos ke babak 16 besar. Lantaran semua tim yang menghuni Grup G masih mempunyai peluang untuk melaju ke babak selanjutnya. 

http://www.republika.co.id/berita/piala-dunia/news-samba-2014/14/06/23/n7lhwh-gol-telat-varela-selamatkan-portugal-dari-kekalahan

Redaktur	:	Citra Listya Rini
Reporter	:	C79

Bento: Beat USA or we 'pack our bags'

Foto : AFP

Portugal coach Paulo Bento said on Saturday that his team can start packing their bags if they don't beat USA on Sunday in Manaus. Portugal were beaten 4-0 by Germany in their Group G opener and anything other than a win on Sunday would take qualification for the Round of 16 out of their hands.

Added to that, their preparation for Sunday's clash has been far from ideal as injuries and a suspension have shorn Bento of four players, with  Bruno Alves a doubt as well. Bento isn't allowing excuses to get in the way of his team's preparation.

"Let's stop talking about the absentees and think about playing," he said. "The situation is very simple: either we win or we start to pack our bags. If it's a draw, it's the same. That's not a scenario the Portuguese are used to.

"When you need to react, I think we're good. I truly believe and the players have to convince themselves too. The merit is all theirs. I only have a little. Now they have to fight to improve their credit. We need a team that is confident in itself and able to control the different aspects of the match."

As ever, a lot of focus has been on Cristiano Ronaldo in Brazil, but Bento says the Real Madrid star is dealing with the pressure of the FIFA World Cup™.

"When I took the job I said I'd never put the responsibility for solving problems on his (Ronaldo's) shoulders or those of any other player," he said. "That's my issue. He's an important player for the team but I don't think he's got any more pressure than before. He's treated normally. We have one of the best players in the world but there are others to support him. If we had only the best players in the world, we wouldn't go very far."

 http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=bento-beat-usa-or-we-pack-our-bags-2380631.html