US football fans joyous then deflated

Fans with their faces painted with the US national soccer team's colours, watch a live telecast of the group G World Cup match between United States and Portugal, inside the FIFA Fan Fest area on Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 22 June 2014AP

US fans with their faces painted in the national colours cheer on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro

The heartbreak was etched on the faces of USA football fans as a last-gasp equaliser by Portugal denied them a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

The game finished 2-2 as Portugal's Silvestre Varela scored in the final seconds of the game.

"It was a thriller," said US coach Jurgen Klinsmann.

"Everybody who had a chance to be today in Manaus will talk about this game for a long time."

The US now need at least a draw against Germany in Recife on Thursday to be guaranteed of progression to the knock-out stages, but could even lose and still qualify if the Ghana-Portugal result favours them.

Fans cheer for the United States as they watch a World Cup soccer match between the United States and Portugal, in Orlando, Florida 22 June 2014AP

Back in the US, fans gathered to cheer in Orlando

United States Clint Dempsey celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the group G World Cup soccer match between the USA and Portugal at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil, 22 June 2014AP

US player Clint Dempsey celebrates his chested goal which put the US 2-1 ahead

Fans cheer after USA scored the second goal during the 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match between Portugal and the US. at a viewing party in Los Angeles, California 22 June 2014Reuters

Fans react to Clint Demspey's goal in Los Angeles....

Allison DiFilippo, left, and Samantha Donat, both of New York, react as the United States went up 2-1 over Portugal in the second half as they watched the 2014 World Cup soccer match at a large screen public broadcast on Governor"s Island in New York, 22 June 2014AP

... and New York

Portugal's Silvestre Varela watches as his header goes past United States goalkeeper Tim Howard to score his side's second goal and tie the game 2-2 during the group G World Cup soccer match between the USA and Portugal at the Arena da Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil 22 June 2014AP

But in the last seconds of the game, Varela's bullet header from a Ronaldo cross broke American hearts

US soccer fans at The Claddagh Irish Pub in Pittsburgh react as Portugal scores to tie the score at 2-2 with less than one minute remaining during a World Cup soccer match against the United States in Brazil 22 June 2014AP

Fans in Pittsburgh react as an automatic place into the round of 16 is ripped away from the US by the draw

A USA soccer fan reacts after Portugal scored a second goal during the 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match between Portugal and the US at a viewing party in Los Angeles, California 22 June 2014Reuters

But the US will play Germany on Thursday for another chance - expect more nail-biting and head holding

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