Portugal’s old debt to the United States comes due again on Tuesday

The United States men’s national team is back in action Tuesday against an opponent it seems to have figured out, despite how rarely they have met. Portugal, the next challenger for the Americans, has unfinished business: it has gone more than 35 years without beating them.

Portugal heads into the game still carrying the frustration of that drought. Its last win over the United States came on Dec. 19, 1990, when Domingos scored the only goal. Since then, the Portuguese have been unable to beat the Stars and Stripes at senior level.

Defeat at the 2002 World Cup – a deep wound

Since that result, meetings between the two national teams have been few and far between. But without question, the loss that left the deepest scar on Portugal came in Suwon, South Korea, during the 2002 World Cup.

In the opening game of the tournament for both teams, the United States stunned Portugal, which came in as the favorite because of its conditions and the quality of its players. Goals from John O’Brien and Brian McBride, along with a Jorge Costa own goal, ended up costing Portugal the game, and it was later eliminated in the group stage.

A chance to settle the score

Given the current situation of both teams, Portugal appears to have everything in place to finally get the win. It comes into the game in better form than its opponent, which has not beaten a European national team in several years.

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