The United States lost to Germany 1-0 on Thursday but still advanced to the Round of 16 after Portugal's 2-1 win against Ghana. Here's how the drama played out on the interwebs.
Pregame: Rough conditions in Recife
In the minutes leading up to the match, many shared scenes from a flooded Recife. While it was widely reported that most of the USMNT's family members could not reach the stadium because of the conditions, the match went on as planned.
Good thing we brought life jackets... pic.twitter.com/0JM6dqxQOS
- Jeremy Schaap (@JeremySchaap) June 26, 2014
The water is at least 2 feet high in Recife. pic.twitter.com/giH6h7pib1
- Sam Borden (@SamBorden) June 26, 2014
This is a member of FIFA testing the pitch, not John Cleese. http://t.co/LN5uOE3nXv pic.twitter.com/VIEwSnDhBx
- Cindy Boren (@CindyBoren) June 26, 2014
US fans. Wet but ready for the game. #CNNWorldCup pic.twitter.com/KLaal71Vxo
- Frederik Pleitgen (@fpleitgenCNN) June 26, 2014
@whatahowler Paper Clint Dempsey is ready pic.twitter.com/wvuz30wdml
- Andrew Millen (@andrewsmillen) June 26, 2014
Best prematch "fan" post
Nothing will likely top Will Ferrell. He was not in a glass case of emotion:
Game on! First half
Germany dominated possession in the early going, but both sides were scoreless after the first half. Some highlights:
In the first five minutes, Germany completed 73 passes; #USMNT completed 7.
- Paul Carr (@PCarrESPN) June 26, 2014
90 minutes of this may just call for medication. #USAvGER
- Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) June 26, 2014
Graham Zusi had the best chance for the U.S.
Graham Zusi, THIS close! #USMNT pic.twitter.com/68ag6j91tl
- ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 26, 2014
- Mike Tomlin (@CoachTomlin) June 26, 2014
Ref collison!
Hey, ref, get out of the way! #USAvsGER
- Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) June 26, 2014
REFEREE RAVSHAN IRMATOV ISN'T HERE TO MAKE FRIENDS
- Pablo S. Torre (@PabloTorre) June 26, 2014
Yellow card for the referee here #USAvsGER pic.twitter.com/hu0HQHUAss
- ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 26, 2014
TIMMY! Great save on a point blank shot. Still 0-0, 36' #USAvsGER
- ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 26, 2014
Halftime reaction
With both sides scoreless at the half, the Twitterverse was nervous.
Use Halftime wisely. Pray to the Old Gods and the New
- Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 26, 2014
US 45 minutes away from astonishing achievement: emerging from shadow of the Valley of Group of Death. Miracle on Ice on Grass
- roger bennett (@rogbennett) June 26, 2014
Time of possession: #GER 65% Tim Howard 35%
- Kelly Whiteside (@KellyWhiteside) June 26, 2014
DRAW! What is it good for? #proceedingtotheknockoutstage #USAvsGermany
- Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) June 26, 2014
Second half
Germany brought in scoring machine Miroslav Klose for Lukas Podolski at the start of the half, and it didn't take long for him to make an impact:
Ugh. Klose coming in for GER. He's tied for most WC goals w Brazil's Ronaldo at 15. He'll want to beat that record.
- Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) June 26, 2014
Klose to walk on pitch. God please make me see him scoring his 16th while I have Ronaldo in front of me
- Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) June 26, 2014
Klose with an open header in the box! It goes just wide. Still 0-0, 52' #USAvsGER
- ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 26, 2014
Then, in the 55th minute, Thomas Muller found his chance for Germany. Tim Howard made the initial diving save, but the rebound fell right in front of Muller, who slammed the ball into the corner of the net.
Brilliant from Howard on the first save. Unfortunately the one place he punches is to Muller. What a finish.
- Kurtis Larson (@KurtLarSUN) June 26, 2014
What a save by Howard initially... what a Howitzer by Müller
- Juan Arango (@JuanG_Arango) June 26, 2014
Yes Germany
- Rihanna (@rihanna) June 26, 2014
Still needs to be three goals scored between #GER and #POR to make it level on goal difference. Breathing space.
- Dale Johnson (@dalejohnsonESPN) June 26, 2014
I don't think the #USA likes Bastian Schweinsteiger very much. Hack-A-Schwein.
- James Tyler (@JamesTylerESPN) June 26, 2014
Come on boys!!! Let's get one late here!!! #usa
- Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) June 26, 2014
Um, boys, someone is watching you. No pressure.
President Obama watches the USA vs Germany World Cup game aboard Air Force One enroute to Minneapolis. #worldcup pic.twitter.com/bK2OGz5Xnd
- Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) June 26, 2014
Later on, there was a bad collision between Jermaine Jones and Alejandro Bedoya. Jones' nose was bloodied, but both players returned to play in the match:
Bad collision there between Jones and Bedoya. Bedoya up, Jones immediately signalling bench. Another broken nose?
- Chris Jones (@MySecondEmpire) June 26, 2014
Blood coming from Jones's nose. Nasty.
- Sam Borden (@SamBorden) June 26, 2014
Jermaine Jones has been all heart today for the #USMNT. pic.twitter.com/S7kXCP6Z5I
- ESPN (@espn) June 26, 2014
Meanwhile, in Brasilia ...
While the U.S. and Germany played on, Cristiano Ronaldo helped ease American fans' worries. He scored with 10 minutes left to give Portugal a 2-1 lead against Ghana. If both matches' results held, Germany and the United States would advance out of the group:
Funny how this love-hate relationship w Ronaldo went this week. Bless him. #almostthere
- Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) June 26, 2014
Cristiano Ronaldo is helping you, America. You'd at least better feel dirty.
- Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) June 26, 2014
Cristiano Ronaldo is the first Portuguese player to score in three World Cups.
- Paul Carr (@PCarrESPN) June 26, 2014
#USMNT ♥ @Cristiano. US almost certain to advance unless Ghana scores twice in the last 8 minutes. http://t.co/HS25xZ2HVw
- Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) June 26, 2014
USA fans to Cristiano Ronaldo... pic.twitter.com/5IXHb9sxWi
- 2014 World Cup (@TheWorIdCup) June 26, 2014
The U.S. officially advances
And the crowd goes ...
Chalk up another W for Stefanie... I'm use to it!! #WorldCup
- Andre Agassi (@AndreAgassi) June 26, 2014
HAPPY HOME !!! #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/N196GsYGF9
- Andre Agassi (@AndreAgassi) June 26, 2014
#USMNT survives the Group of Deep Breaths
- Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) June 26, 2014
Love the shots of US fans all over Brazil & US cheering, hugging, ecstatic. And the USA doesn't like soccer. Heh. #worldcup
- Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) June 26, 2014
#USA Still in it! Tremendous achievement to get out of this group! #WorldCup #USAvsGER
- Alejandro Moreno (@15AleMoreno) June 26, 2014
It doesn't have to be pretty. Finding a way!! Congrats boys. #IBelieve
- Abby Wambach (@AbbyWambach) June 26, 2014
I'm a loser baby, but go ahead and advance me. #gocrazywiththecheesewhiz
- Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) June 26, 2014
Despite tough loss to Germany, TeamUSA is moving on! They survived #GroupOfDeath. Proved many "experts" wrong but not true fans. #IBelieve
- Robin Roberts (@RobinRoberts) June 26, 2014
BBC announcers praising #USMNT from across the pond for playing together and with heart
- Hannah Storm (@HannahStormESPN) June 26, 2014
This is the first time the USA have gone further than England in a World Cup both have played in.
- Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) June 26, 2014
USA are playing better than England. The Apocalypse has arrived.
- Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 26, 2014
We did our part Rog. @meninblazers #rightseat pic.twitter.com/bQ5KlCn36S
- Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) June 26, 2014
Humble pie hasn't tasted this good....EVER!!! Well done @J_Klinsmann and all 23 players for making us proud to be American. #USA
- Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) June 26, 2014
#USA >>> pic.twitter.com/ECaK55kw2X
- SportsNation (@SportsNation) June 26, 2014
Never been happier to be proven wrong. Congratulations to @J_Klinsmann and the #USMNT. I now believe.
- Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) June 26, 2014
And finally ...
Moments after the match, the USMNT thanked its fans:
Celebrating as #OneNationOneTeam today! Thanks for the support, #USA. Here we come, Knockout Round! pic.twitter.com/x641DAvaXO
- U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 26, 2014