Portugal’s Ana Capeta Fires Shots at USA After Narrowly Missing Out on World Cup Knockout
Portugal’s Ana Capeta believes her team were ‘far superior’ to the United States in Tuesday’s goalless draw at the Women’s World Cup, having come within inches of sending the defending champions crashing out of the tournament.
The debutants enjoyed 56% possession in the match against a nervy USA and came within inches of knocking out the holders and progressing to the knockout stages at their expense. In the first minute of stoppage time, Capeta raced through on goal and fired a fizzing effort against the foot of the post, with the ball rebounding to safety.
Had it gone in, USA would have been eliminated in the group stage for the first time ever and Capeta felt Portugal deserved to win the match, while she was itching to spoil the defending champions’ Netflix series.
‘It was by mere centimetres that we didn’t make another dream come true,’ Capeta told the Portuguese media after the game. ‘We had already achieved the biggest dream of all football players by being the first Portuguese team to play at the [Women’s] World Cup. I think we were competent and deserved more, not only for what we did today but also for what we produced in all three matches.’
On the United States having a camera crew following them around for a Netflix documentary, Capeta added: ‘To spoil the Netflix series would have been something. We could have reversed the roles in it!’
She added: ‘We are very united on the field and what we lack in technique and tactics we make up for in spirit and desire. They will never beat us in that. It was a positive World Cup and I hope it will be the first of many.’
The United States scraped through as runners-up – the first time they have failed to win at least two group matches – and will likely face Sweden in the next round, while Netherlands progressed as group winners after a thumping 7-0 win over Vietnam.
Ana Capeta’s Near Miss Leaves USA on Brink of World Cup Elimination
Portugal’s Ana Capeta came within inches of sending defending champions USA crashing out of the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday, with her fizzing effort hitting the post in injury time.
The tournament debutants enjoyed 56% possession in the match against a nervy USA and came within inches of knocking out the holders and progressing to the knockout stages at their expense.
Had it gone in, USA would have been eliminated in the group stage for the first time ever and Capeta felt Portugal deserved to win the match, while she was itching to spoil the defending champions’ Netflix series.
‘It was by mere centimetres that we didn’t make another dream come true,’ Capeta told the Portuguese media after the game. ‘We had already achieved the biggest dream of all football players by being the first Portuguese team to play at the [Women’s] World Cup. I think we were competent and deserved more, not only for what we did today but also for what we produced in all three matches.’
On the United States having a camera crew following them around for a Netflix documentary, Capeta added: ‘To spoil the Netflix series would have been something. We could have reversed the roles in it!’
She added: ‘We are very united on the field and what we lack in technique and tactics we make up for in spirit and desire. They will never beat us in that. It was a positive World Cup and I hope it will be the first of many.’
The United States scraped through as runners-up – the first time they have failed to win at least two group matches – and will likely face Sweden in the next round, while Netherlands progressed as group winners after a thumping 7-0 win over Vietnam.
Portugal’s Ana Capeta came within inches of sending USA crashing out of the Women’s World Cup, with her fizzing effort hitting the post in injury time. Despite coming close to eliminating the defending champions, Portugal were unable to secure a win and were forced to settle for a draw.
Capeta was disappointed that her team were unable to make history by eliminating USA from the tournament, but was proud of their performance throughout all three matches. She also expressed her desire to spoil USA’s Netflix series with a win, which unfortunately didn’t come to fruition.
The United States scraped through as runners-up – the first time they have failed to win at least two group matches – and will likely face Sweden in the next round, while