The holders were almost on the receiving end of suckerpunch in Auckland (Picture: Getty)

Reigning Women’s World Cup champions USA were inches away from crashing out of the tournament in the group stage but managed to sneak past Portugal by the skin of their teeth.

Despite having more chances in the match, the holders – who are so used to cruising into the knockout stages – looked unusually nervy, particularly in a tense second half, and only had 44% possession.

In the first of eight minutes of added time in Auckland, a swift break forward saw Ana Capeta race through on goal and smash the foot of the post for Portugal – the width of the woodwork away from one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.

The tournament debutants looked full of belief as the seconds ticked away while USA were rattled and ragged, but they just about clung on to progress to the knockout stages as runners-up in Group E.

Speaking on ITV Sport, Arsenal legend Kim Little said of the match: ‘It’s unusual for USA to be in that position and credit to Portugal for their performance today.

‘I think the second half was maybe not as strong as the first, they tired a little bit and struggled when [Francisca] Nazareth went off. But they got the chance there at the end and it was millimetres away.

Ana Capeta’s late strike smashed the base of the post (Picture: Getty)

‘Maybe she should have gone across goal, maybe it would have given her a better chance of going in, but I think they can be proud of their first World Cup.’

Alex Morgan had a host of chances to score, and on another night might have bagged a hat-trick with one effort even cleared off the line, but the USA’s finishing and composure seems to have evaded them in Australia and New Zealand so far.

‘They’re just not flowing, they’re just not connecting with each other, continued Little.

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‘I think Megan Rapinoe did make a slight difference when she came on, but the substitutes that were made didn’t have that big an impact on the team.

‘For a team of the USA’s quality and stature you would expect them to have a bit more of an influence, so obviously moving forward into the knockout rounds that needs to be looked at in terms of how can they tactically change or maybe bring on players who are actually going to change the game if they’ve not got it right in the first half.’

Elsewhere in the group, the Netherlands secured a thumping 7-0 win over Vietnam to top the group and progress as winners – with Italy their likeliest opponents, though South Africa and Argentina could also progress – while the USA will likely face Sweden, who won their opening two matches.

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The holders were almost on the receiving end of suckerpunch in Auckland.