USA vs. Portugal, International Friendly: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread and More

Welcome to your live thread for the United States Women's National Team vs. Portugal in the third match of the U.S. Victory Tour (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2). It’s the third of five matches to celebrate the USWNT’s World Cup victory as the teams square off at Allianz Field in St. Paul, MN.

The USWNT will be playing its third match at home since winning the World Cup. The U.S. squad remains depleted with some injuries to the team forcing outgoing manager Jill Ellis to call up defender Casey Short and forward Kristen Hamilton for this set of matches.

The United States is 16-1-2 in the 2019 calendar year, but hasn’t lost since Jan. 19 in an away match against France. The USWNT is 8-0-0 in the all-time series between the two nations. The teams just met on Thursday evening at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, where the U.S. won, 4-0. Tobin Heath, Morgan Brian, Carli Lloyd, and Allie Long provided the offense and Adrianna Franch got the shutout in just her second international cap.

Prior to Thursday, the teams last met in a friendly in Lisbon last November, with the U.S. prevailing, 1-0 on a Jessica McDonald goal. The United States won its historic 500th all-time victory against the Portuguese that day but it was a close affair, with each side attempting 13 shots and McDonald lifting the Yanks on her first international goal.

One of the United States’ key injuries is to Orlando Pride striker Alex Morgan, who is going through concussion protocol after taking a hard knock early in last Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Chicago. Pride defender Ali Krieger will miss the Portugal friendlies due to a family emergency.

Other players have been dealing with injuries, like Kelley O’Hara and Washington Spirit stars Mallory Pugh and Rose Lavelle, who both missed last Saturday night’s match against the Pride. although Pugh returned to action Thursday night for the U.S.

Portugal, which has gone 5-3-2 since losing last November to the U.S., is ranked 30th in the latest FIFA rankings (the U.S. remains at No. 1). The Portuguese did not qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup after finishing third in UEFA Group 6 behind Italy and Belgium. A Selecção das Quinas will be attempting to qualify for Euro 2021 starting in October. Portugal will compete in Group E along with Albania, Cyprus, Finland and Pride forward Claire Emslie’s Scotland side — the only team in the group that participated in the 2019 World Cup.

Wolfsburg defender Cláudia Neto leads Portugal with 121 caps and has scored 17 career international goals. Midfielder Ana Borges (114), defender Carole Costa (112) and forward Dolores Silva (106) have also reached 100+ caps. Neither Neto nor Borges were available for Portugal the last time these teams met, although all 11 starters from that game, as well as the three subs, are all on the roster for this pair of matches. Midfielder Diana Silva has scored four goals since the start of 2019 to lead all players on her team, so keep your eye on No. 16 for Portugal.  

Rosters

USWNT (Caps/Goals)

Goalkeepers (3): Adrianna Franch (Portland Thorns FC; 2/0), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride; 22/0), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 54/0).

Defenders (8): Abby Dahlkemper (North Carolina Courage; 49/0), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars; 22/1); Crystal Dunn (North Carolina Courage; 93/24), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride; 104/1), Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals FC; 125/2), Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals FC; 166/0), 26-Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC; 36/0).

Midfielders (6): Morgan Brian (Chicago Red Stars; 84/7), Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars; 90/19), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC; 76/11), Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit; 34/10), Allie Long (Reign FC; 48/7), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage; 58/14).

Forwards (8): Kristen Hamilton (NC Courage; 0/0), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC; 158/32); Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC; 283/115), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage; 10/2), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride; 168/107), Christen Press (Utah Royals FC; 125/49), Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit; 57/17), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC; 158/50).

Portugal

Goalkeepers (3): 1-Inês Pereira (Sporting CP), 12-Patrícia Morais (Sporting CP), 22-Rute Costa (SC Braga).

Defenders (10): 2-Mónica Mendes (AC Milan, ITA), 3-Raquel Infante (Benfica), 4-Sílvia Rebelo (Benfica), 5-Matilde Fidalgo (Manchester City, ENG), 6-Andreia Norton (SC Sand, GER), 7-Cláudia Neto (VfL Wolfsburg, GER), 8-Melissa Gomes (Stade de Reims, FRA), 15-Carole Costa (Sporting CP), 21-Inês Maia (SC Braga), 23-Joana Marchão (Sporting CP). 

Midfielders (5): 9-Ana Borges (Sporting CP), 10-Jéssica Silva (Olympique Lyon, FRA), 16-Diana Silva (Sporting CP), 18-Carolina Mendes (Sporting CP), 20-Ana Leite (Borussia Bochholt, GER).

Forwards (5): 11-Tatiana Pinto (Sporting CP), 13-Fátima Pinto (Sporting CP), 14-Dolores Silva (Atletico Madrid, ESP), 17-Vanessa Marques (SC Braga), 19-Diana Gomes (SC Braga).

How to Watch

Match Time: 8 p.m. (ET).

Venue: Allianz Field — St. Paul, MN.

TV: ESPN2.

Streaming: WatchESPN.

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow @StarsStripesFC, @USWNT, and @TheManeLand.

Match Thread Rules

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Enjoy the match. Go America!