: US FANS SEE 'CRUEL' SIDE OF SOCCER

A one-goal lead is never safe, and U.S. fans who counted their chickens too early in the World Cup match got a bitter dose of dissatisfaction as Portugal scored in the final seconds, resulting in a 2-2 draw.

It was not the win the players had hoped for.

"Football's cruel sometimes," said Tim Howard, a former teammate of Christiano Ronaldo, who set up the final goal that got past him when Varela headed the ball in.

The United States now has four points in Group G, the same as Germany. They face each other in Recife on Thursday.

"It was a thriller," said U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann. "Everybody who had a chance to be today in Manaus will talk about this game for a long time."

And perhaps, so will those who watched from afar.