Portugal struggled to counter, but in the closing stages of the first-half, Ronaldo and Nani were denied by Howard before the Everton goalkeeper produced an acrobatic save on the stroke of half-time to prevent substitute Eder from making it 2-0.
With the Americans struggling to break through, Portugal upped the tempo in the second-half in an attempt to kill off their opponents.
More hapless defending led to Eder being given a chance to score on 48 minutes, but the Braga forward has looked well off the pace in Brazil and he predictably directed his shot over the bar.
The States then responded and the adventurous full-back Fabian Johnson pulled the ball back for Bradley to take a free strike at goal from six yards, but just as an equaliser appeared inevitable, Ricardo Costa produced a crucial goal-line clearance to keep Portugal ahead.
There would be no stopping Jones’s goal 10 minutes later, however.
In a tournament illuminated by wonder goals, this one – a right-foot curler from 25 yards -- was right up there with Lionel Messi’s winner against Iran and Robin van Persie’s header against Spain.
Dempsey’s was not quite so eye-catching, but it looked set to secure victory for the States until Ronaldo intervened with his cross for Varela’s injury-time equaliser.
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