New York City soccer fans went from ecstasy to agony Sunday when the U.S. national team dribbled away a chance to advance to the second round of the World Cup in the very last seconds.
The American squad had taken a seemingly invincible 2-1 lead with nine minutes left in regulation only to allow a goal with less than 30 seconds to play on a perfect header by Portugal's Silvestre Varela.
The match ended in a draw, turning the cheers to confused jeers from the crowd at Studio Square in Astoria, Queens.
'I don't even have any words. I'm so disappointed,' said Andrew Maceda, 24, of the East Village.
Fans began prematurely celebrating a U.S. victory after team captain Clint Dempsey's 80th-minute goal, which seemed like it would give the Americans their first consecutive World Cup wins since 1930.
But star-spangled flags - and faces - suddenly went limp with Varela's late-game heroics.
'I'm shocked,' said Ester Garcia, 30, of Hell's Kitchen. 'They just needed to hold the ball. I can't believe this happened. They had the game.'
A win or a tie against Germany on Thursday would send the U.S. into the round of 16 - but if the Americans lose, they need a tie between Ghana and Portugal, or a low-scoring win by Portugal in order to advance. Those teams play at the same time as the U.S.-Germany game.
But Pedro Bermejo, 22, of Brooklyn, feared Sunday's outcome may have taken the fight out of the U.S. team.
'I feel terrible that they have to play against Germany,' Bermejo said. 'I'm 60% sure Germany will win that game.'
Kelvin Diaz, 27, of Hempstead, L.I., said he believes in miracles.
'The game was great. You had the best of the best playing,' Diaz said of Sunday's match in the Amazon city of Manaus, Brazil.
'We still have a chance,' Diaz said. 'And if you're scared, go to church.'
Martin Mejia/AP
Carlos Vargas, 29, of Astoria, also likes the Americans' chances against Germany.
'Anything is possible in the World Cup,' Vargas said.
Of course, not everyone bleeds red, white and blue.
'The U.S. has no chance,' said Dijana Ilieva, 29, of Brooklyn. 'The Netherlands will go all all the way.'
With News Wire Services