They came by the hundreds to cheer Team USA to what they hoped would be victory against the dreaded German soccer team on Thursday at Rivalries in downtown Portland. The U.S. team fell to Germany, 1-0, but because Portugal defeated Ghana, 2-1, Team USA's World Cup hopes are still alive.

With ever near miss, blocked shot, save and contact play, Portland area World Cup soccer fans cheered, ooohed, ahhhed and lived and died with movement on the field in faraway Brazil. Rivalries Manager Brian Portwein said it was a banner day for his restaurant.

Credit: Robert Cook. Andrew Nye of Saco sports his U.S. soccer team jersey at Rivalries sports bar in Portland on Thursday.
Credit: Robert Cook. Andrew Nye of Saco sports his U.S. soccer team jersey at Rivalries sports bar in Portland on Thursday.
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He and the waitstaff were just as busy as the teams on the numerous flat screen TVs serving their customers beer and food for the big game. Either way, the USA soccer team's emergence as a legitimate contender for the World Cup has been a welcome surprise for Portland area sports fans. The atmosphere inside of Rivalries rivaled the Red Sox in the World Series, the Patriots playing for another Super Bowl title and the Bruins going head to head in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Credit: Robert Cook. The World Cup soccer match between the USA and Germany yielded a banner day for Rivalries sports bar in Portland.
Credit: Robert Cook. The World Cup soccer match between the USA and Germany yielded a banner day for Rivalries sports bar in Portland.
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What do you think about the U.S. soccer team's performance in the World Cup? Share your thoughts here on our web site and on our Facebook and Twitter pages with the hashtag #WorldCupUSASoccer.

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