The two-time defending champs can claim the top spot – and a road to the final that likely wouldn’t include England, Germany or France – by beating Portugal and maintaining their plus-2 goal differential against the Netherlands.
The Americans looked deflated after giving up a goal in the 17th minute, the first time since the 2011 quarterfinals they have trailed in a World Cup game. They appeared disorganized and tentative, showing none of the cohesion they had to start the game.
Horan crumbled to the field and was down for several minutes. She was clearly angry when she finally got up. She had words with her Lyon teammate, and the two were pushing and shoving in the box after the USWNT was awarded a corner kick. Even the referee’s attempt to get the two to make nice didn’t calm Horan, who was still muttering when Rose Lavelle lined up in the corner.