The United States Women’s National Soccer Team, in their attempt to win a third straight World Cup and fifth overall, was knocked out of the round of 16 early Sunday morning by Sweden 5-4 in penalty kicks in Melbourne, Australia.
The U.S. largely dominated 120 messy, physical, tense minutes. They tested Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic again and again. They played well enough to win in regulation, or at least in extra time, but couldn’t find a breakthrough as the game would go to PK’s after a scoreless regulation.
Andi Sullivan (Sweden) and Fridolina Rolfö buried their opening spot PK’s for Sweden, while both Lindsey Horan and Elin Rubensson both scored for the Americans in Round 2. Kristie Mewis fresh off the bench in the 120th minute, went top corner to give the U.S. a 3-2 lead, and that’s when Sweden flinched. Nathalie Björn fired her attempt over the bar. Megan Rapinoe also skied her penalty high and wide, but then Alyssa Naeher sprung to her left to make a huge save on the next Sweden attempt. Sophia Smith (US) then stepped up with a chance to win it, but also missed the net entirely. Hannah Bennison (SWE) found the roof of the goal to send the shootout to sudden death. With the sixth kick, Naeher stepped up and scored for the U.S. straight down the middle. She then came inches away from getting a hand to the sixth attempt for the Swedes by Magdalena Eriksson, but that too found the back of the net. In the seventh round, Kelley O’Hara beat Musovic but instead clipped the post. Lina Hurtig converted the game winner by a matter of inches, after her shot hit the crossbar but on the deflection straight down it crossed just over the goal line. The play was reviewed, but was clearly a goal as Sweden walked it off. This is the earliest exit ever in the FIFA World Cup for the United States, who is ranked the top team in the world and had received at least a bronze medal in all eight of their appearances. This also marks the end of a career for Rapinoe, a three-time world champion.
Story by Chris Lessner
