Portugal get the better of United States in friendly as World Cup nears

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pochettino-mauricio/zuJM7XDg/"]Mauricio Pochettino[/a] will have wanted a much-improved performance here after the heavy defeat to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] on the weekend, as the USMNT put the finishing touches on their preparation for the summer’s tournament.[/p][p]And it was the Americans who got off to a fast start here in Atlanta, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mckennie-weston/jZHxRi2A/"]Weston McKennie[/a] had an early effort saved by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jose-sa/tMoomIVO/"]Jose Sa[/a], before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pulisic-christian/vTuaEfRq/"]Christian Pulisic[/a] had a shot blocked inside the box.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] reminded their hosts of the threat they posed in attack, however, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandes-bruno/GYvAMDm2/"]Bruno Fernandes[/a] broke through the lines and powered an effort on goal, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/freese-matthew/QmlhGCEq/"]Matt Freese[/a] did well to get down low and turn the ball behind for a corner. [/p][p]The game was being played at a frantic, end-to-end pace, as the home side continued to create chances. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/berhalter-sebastian/f9tMZSaG/"]Sebastian Berhalter[/a] had a shot from distance saved, while Pulisic also let fly from outside the box but his daisy-cutter flashed inches wide of the left post.[/p][p]The US were left ruing those missed chances and found themselves behind at the break. Fernandes once again broke forward into the opposition box, but as he went wide, the maestro showed his magnificent awareness, [b]as he backheeled the ball into the middle of the box for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/trincao/vmYemyQS/"]Francisco Trincao[/a] to latch onto and fire home.[/b][/p][embed guid="66012325-dc79-4030-8047-54d0484fe662" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2039147125607436451?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The start to the second half was disrupted by a large amount of substitutions made by both coaches and the two sets of players struggled to get into rhythm - a stark contrast to the first half. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ramos-goncalo/xfW2M1Tt/"]Goncalo Ramos[/a] came close to doubling [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/samuel-portugal/d0lOFLxT/"]Portugal[/a]'s lead after collecting the ball on the edge of the box but the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a] man couldn’t hit the target with his curling shot.[/p][p]Nevertheless, the [i]Selecao das Quinas[/i] did net a second just before the hour mark with a beautifully crafted goal involving Fernandes once again. This time the Premier League’s leading creator got the assist after his corner-kick to the edge of the box was beautifully controlled by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joao-felix/KI3YXMhi/"]Joao Felix[/a], [b]who took a touch before lashing the bouncing ball home with a powerful, low drive.[/b] [/p][p]Portugal dominated the second half after netting the second goal, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neves-ruben/Ea90ReE4/"]Ruben Neves[/a] went close to adding a third via a trademark finish - a dipping volley from distance - but Freese did well to save.[/p][p]Pochettino’s men struggled to lay a glove on the Portuguese after the restart and in the end, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]USA[/a] fell to successive defeats in this international break - not the ideal preparation the Argentine coach would have wanted going into the WC as co-hosts. Portugal, meanwhile, look primed and raring to go under Roberto Martínez.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/portugal-WvJrjFVN/usa-fuitL4CF/?mid=W4Oz5JT7"]Check out the match stats for the contest on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]