The United States team, current world champion, has been eliminated after losing to Sweden in the penalty shootout (5-4) of the round of 16 of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, in Megan Raphinoe’s last game.
Precisely, the American player was one of those who missed the penalty kicks, a moment of maximum tension in which Sweden enjoyed the greatest fortune.
After a lost final and two won world championships, this is the first time since 2007 that the United States has lost in a knockout round. In addition, it is the first time in history that the American team does not finish in the top three.
The Americans’ 21 shots on goal showed their dominance, but it wasn’t enough to beat a solid Sweden side. The United States searched for the rival goal from the early stages of the match. The ball went to the Americans in the first half and Sullivan warned the Nordics with a shot from the edge of the area in the 6th minute of the game.
The US team continued to insist, and Rodman, again with a powerful shot from the edge, was able to put goalkeeper Musovic in trouble, who caught the ball and avoided the goal.
Sweden, currently in third position in the FIFA Ranking, and with 9 goals in the group stage, was not able to get hold of the ball and as a result they finished the second half without shots on goal.
Musovic stopped a very clear chance from the American Horan in the 52nd minute. A good cross from the left wing allowed him to finish from the penalty spot from point-blank range. However, the Chelsea goalkeeper appeared again to save his team.
The Swedish team focused its attacks on the right flank in the second half. Dunn ran down the sideline to the end line and put the ball behind the US defense which allowed Johanna Kaneryd to finish off easily but missed the net.
Alex Morgan, who says goodbye to the World Cup goalless, had it at the edge of the game with a header after a lateral center, but again the goalkeeper saved the clear chance of scoring and sent her team to extra time.
With both teams showing fatigue, the United States continued to reach the goal with more clarity and, now somewhat in a hurry, the North Americans did not hesitate to shoot from anywhere close to the rival area.
The match continued goalless and was decided in a penalty shootout. The first miss from 11 meters was made by Bjorn, the Everton player. Megan Raphinoe, however, missed surprisingly on the next turn. Blomqvist shot over the goal and the American Smith sent it over the crossbar to tie the shootout.
Finally, Hurtig’s shot gave Sweden victory thanks to a penalty that had to be reviewed by the automatic goal detection system. The Nordics will face Japan in the next round on Friday at 7:30 GMT at Eden Park in Auckland.
Datasheet:
0 – Sweden: Zecira Musovic; Nathalie Bjorn, Amanada Ilestedt, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson; Flilippa Angeldal (m.97, Hanna Bennison), Kosovare Asllani (m.81, Lina Hurtig), Elin Rubensson; Johanna Kaneryd (m.81, Sofia Jakobsson), Fridolina Rolfö, Stina Blackstenius (m.112, Rebecka Blomqvist).
0 – USA : lyssa Naeher; Naomi Girma, Julie Ertz, Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox (m.119, Kelley Ohara); Lindsey Horan, Emily Sonnet (m.119, Kristie Mewis) Andy Sullivan; Trinity Rodman (m.65, Williams), Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan (m.98 Megan Raphinoe).
Penalties: 0-1: Sullivan, goal. 1-1: Rolfo, goal. 1-2: Horan, goal. 2-2: Rubensson, goal. 2-3: Mewis, goal. 2-3: Bjorn, failure. 2-3: Rapinoe, failure. 2:3: Blomqvist, miss. 2:3: Smith, miss. 3-3: Bennison, miss. 3-4: Naeher, goal. 4-4: Eriksson, goal. 4-4: O’Hara, post. 5-4: Hurtig, goal.
Referee: Stephanie Frappart (FRA). On behalf of Sweden, he admonished Asllani (min.49).
Incidents: match corresponding to the round of 16 of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand held at the Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne.
