Altidore injured, Ronaldo uncertain in crucial match

Team USA will face off against Portugal on Sunday following a 2-1 win over Ghana that has heightened the Americans' World Cup hopes. Another victory this weekend would knock out Portugal, who suffered an ugly 4-0 loss to Germany in their first match, and allow the Stars and Stripes to punch a ticket to the next round.

But the United States' three points came at a cost as striker Jozy Altidore was sidelined at the 23-minute mark with a hamstring injury that will force him to miss Sunday's match. Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo could also sit out, reportedly dealing with the knee injury thought to be behind him.

How will Altidore's

injury affect Team USA?

The absence of Altidore, who has 23 international goals, will undoubtedly hurt the United States. Without the striker for a majority of the game, Ghana had possession for 62% of the time, outshooting Team USA 21-8.

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann's decision to cut fellow striker Eddie Johnson, who scored game-winners in two of Team USA's World Cup qualifiers, along with the Americans' all-time leading scorer Landon Donovan, highlights the void.

Without such playmakers, Team USA turns to replacements Aron Johannsson and Chris Wondolowski to step up in a big way. Johannsson, while a raw 23-year-old, found the net 20 times in 39 appearances for Dutch team AZ Alkmaar last season. A more experienced Wondolowski is another option, scoring 80 goals in five seasons with MLS' San Jose Earthquakes and nine with the national team.

Ronaldo's Sunday

status in question

A week prior to the World Cup opener, the Portuguese Football Federation confirmed Ronaldo had a "muscle injury on the back of his left thigh as well as left-leg patellar tendinitis." The ailment limited the 29-year-old's pre-Cup training but did not keep him out of Portugal's first match against Germany. The injury seems to have revisited Ronaldo, as he was seen leaving Wednesday's practice with an ice pack on his knee. While his status is uncertain, his absence would obviously hurt a Portugal team already without defender Pepe, who received a red card and subsequent one-game suspension for head-butting Germany's Thomas Müller.