2014 FIFA World Cup: Last-Minute Goal Saves Portugal From Elimination, Keeps Team USA From Clinching Knockout-Stage Berth; Belgium Top Russia, Advance To Round of 16; Desert Foxes Outfox South Korea

Three games were played on Sunday in Brazil as the second cycle of group-stage matches in the FIFA World Cup concluded in Brazil.

Group G:

At Maunus:

Silvestre Varela's stoppage-time equalizer (90'+5) enabled Portugal to gain a 2-2 draw with the United States, enabling them to avoid elimination while keeping the Americans from clinching a berth in the knockout stage.  Nani scored in the fifth minute for the Seleccao.  Meanwhile, Team USA's goals came courtesy of Jermaine Jones (64') and Clint Dempsey (81').  Here, we see the Americans' Michael Bradley battle Portugal's Joao Moutinho for the ball.

USATSI photo

GROUP G STANDINGS:

1. Germany (GP: 2; GD: +4; PTS: 4)
2. United States (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Ghana (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4. Portugal (GP: 2; GD: -4; PTS: 1)



Group H:

At Rio de Janeiro:

Divock Origi scored the only goal of the match (shown here) in the 88th minute as Belgium locked up a berth in the knockout stage with a 1-0 win over Russia.

Getty Images photo

At Porto Alegre:

With four goal scorers tallying once apiece, Algeria moved into second place in Group H following their 4-2 doubling up of South Korea.  Abdelmoumene Djabou scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 38th minute as the Desert Foxes scored three first-half tallies, racing out to a 3-0 halftime advantage.  The four goals were the most ever scored by an African squad at the World Cup.  Here, we see Yacine Brahimi celebrating after scoring a goal in the 64th minute that finally put the South Koreans away.

Getty Images photo

GROUP H STANDINGS:

1. x-Belgium (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
2.    Algeria (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3.    Russia (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4.    South Korea (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 1)

x-Advanced to the knockout stage