CHESTER — The U.S. women’s national team honored Alex Morgan before Thursday night’s game at Subaru Park. Its fans then watched in vain for 90 minutes waiting for an offensive player to emerge and seize the moment like she did 15 years ago.

The U.S. lost on home soil for the third time this year, a 2-1 decision to a Portugal team that had been winless in its last eight. That despite Rose Lavelle scoring in the first minute and the emotional boost of the Morgan ceremony pregame.

It wasn’t enough to counterbalance goals off corner kicks on either side of halftime by Diana Gomes and Fatima Pinto to lead Portugal to the win in the first of two meetings between the teams this week.

Morgan was one of the most prolific strikers in American soccer history. She was part of the teams that won the

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