:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34640511/20140616_ajl_bt1_072.JPG.0.jpg)
The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) started their 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign last Monday with a bang: the US defeated Ghana 2-1 at Estádio das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, snapping a streak of two straight losses to the African side.
The USMNT recorded the fifth fastest goal in the history of the World Cup when captain Clint Dempsey scored after only 34 seconds. Ghana leveled the match in the 82nd minute, but the Americans went ahead for good on a header by young defender John Brooks in the 86th minute.
With Germany and Ghana playing to a 2-2 draw in both teams second game yesterday, the Americans now can advance to the second round with a victory against Portugal today.
The Portuguese come into this match desperate for a win, after suffering a crushing 4-0 defeat at the hands of Germany in their first game. A loss to the US would mean that the team with arguably the best player in the world (Cristiano Ronaldo) would be eliminated after only two games.
***
United States vs. Portugal
@
Arena Amazônia, Manaus, Brazil.
June 22 2014, 6:00 PM ET on ESPN
***
Below are the updated standings in Group G prior to the game this afternoon.
Group G
| # | Country | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
| 1 |  Germany |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2 |  United States |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 3 |  Ghana |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 1 | |
| 4 |  Portugal |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
|
GP = Games Played
W = Win
D = Draw
L = Loss
GF = Goals For
GA = Goals Against
GD = Goal Difference (GF minus GA)
PTS = Points