More viewers than World Series

The U.S.-Portugal match attracts 18.2 million viewers on ESPN, fewer than many regular-season NFL games and the Super Bowl but more than the 15.5 million average for the 2014 NBA Finals and 14.9 million who tuned in to the 2013 World Series. The U.S. lead 2-1 at the end of 90 minutes thanks to a Jermaine Jones opener and a late Clint Dempsey strike, but Portugal equalize in stoppage time. The previous record in the U.S. for viewership of a soccer match is 17.9 million in 1999 for ABC’s broadcast of the Women’s World Cup final.