U.S. loses to Sweden on penalty kicks in its earliest Women’s World Cup exit ever

MELBOURNE, Australia — The United States performed its finest recreation of this Women’s World Cup and it wasn’t ok to cease the two-time reigning champions from being eradicated within the spherical of 16.

The Americans’ bid to win an unprecedented third consecutive title ended Sunday on penalty kicks. Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Kelly O’Hara missed with kicks from the penalty spot earlier than Lina Hurtig transformed to clinch the shootout 5-4 as Sweden knocked the United States out of the World Cup after a scoreless attract regulation and further time.

The Americans managed the shootout till the trio of misses.

It is the earliest exit in match historical past for the United States, four-time winners of the World Cup.

“I mean, this is like a sick joke. For me personally, this is like dark comedy that I missed a penalty,” Rapinoe stated as she blinked again tears. “This is the balance to the beautiful side of the game. I think it can be cruel.”

U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher fruitlessly argued she had saved Hurtig’s try, but it surely was dominated over the road by VAR. The stadium performed Abba’s “Dancing Queen” within the stadium because the Swedes celebrated and the U.S. gamers sobbed.

“We just lost the World Cup by a millimeter. That’s tough,” stated Naeher, who efficiently transformed her personal penalty kick. “I am proud of the fight of the team. We knew we hadn’t done our best in the group stage and we wanted a complete team performance and the team came out and played great.”

She praised Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, who had 11 saves to disclaim the U.S. a spot within the quarterfinals. The American’s worst earlier end had been third place, three totally different occasions.

“We didn’t put anything in the back of the net,” sobbed Julie Ertz after the loss. “The penalties were tough. It’s just emotional because it’s probably my last game ever. It’s just tough. It obviously sucks. Penalties are the worst.”

The loss was considerably anticipated based mostly on the Americans’ listless play via three group-stage matches. But they performed their finest recreation of this World Cup towards Sweden, solely to have it determined by penalties.

“I am proud of the women on the field,” U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski stated. “I know we were criticized for the way we played, and for different moments in the group stage. I think we came out today and showed the grit, the resilience, the fight. The bravery showed we did everything we could to win the game. And, unfortunately, soccer can be cruel sometimes.”

It was the fourth time the Americans went to further time on the World Cup. All three earlier matches went to penalties, together with the 2011 ultimate gained by Japan. The U.S. gained on penalties in a 2011 quarterfinal match towards Brazil, and within the 1999 ultimate on the Rose Bowl towards China.

Sweden knocked the United States out of the 2016 Olympics within the quarterfinals on penalties.

Sweden goes on to the quarterfinals to play Japan, which beat Norway 3-1 on Saturday night time.

Sweden has by no means gained a significant world match, both the World Cup or the Olympics. The closest the workforce has come is World Cup runner-up in 2003. They positioned third within the 1999, 2011 and 2019 editions, and gained silver medals within the final two Olympics.

The end result ended the worldwide profession of Rapinoe, the Golden Boot winner of the 2019 match who’s retiring after the World Cup. She had taken on a smaller position in her ultimate match and was a substitute within the United States’ first and third video games of group play.

She went on in further time towards Sweden and in her ultimate recreation and couple of minutes of motion, she failed to regulate a ball performed in deep, whiffed on a rebound, hit the aspect of the web with a nook kick after which missed the penalty that may have put the United States on the verge of victory.

“Just devastated. It feels like a bad dream,” captain Alex Morgan stated. “The team put everything out there tonight. I feel like we dominated, but it doesn’t matter. We’re going home and it’s the highs and lows of the sport of soccer. So, yeah, it doesn’t feel great.”

The Americans struggled via group play with simply 4 objectives in three matches. They had been practically eradicated final Tuesday by first-timers Portugal, however eked out a 0-0 draw to fall to second of their group for simply the second time at a World Cup.

The Americans appeared much better towards Sweden, dominating possession and outshooting the Swedes 5-1 within the first half. Lindsey Horan’s first-half header hit the crossbar and a second-half blast was saved by goalkeeper Musovic, who had six saves in regulation.

Sweden gained all three of their group video games, together with a 5-0 rout of Italy in its ultimate group match. Coach Peter Gerhardsson made 9 lineup modifications for the match, resting his starters in anticipation of the United States.

“They will come back for sure, they have so much quality on their team,” Sweden midfielder Kosovare Asllani stated of the U.S. workforce. “This defeat will not take them down. I expect them to be ready for the next World Cup.”

It was tense from the opening whistle.

Naeher punched the ball away from a crowded purpose on an early Sweden nook kick. Three of the Swedes’ objectives towards Italy got here on set items.

Trinity Rodman’s shot from distance within the 18th minute was simply caught by Musovic, who stopped one other likelihood by Rodman within the twenty seventh.

Horan’s header off Andi Sullivan’s nook within the thirty fourth hit the crossbar and left out the purpose. Horan was on the right track within the 53rd minute however Musovic pushed it vast. Horan crouched to the sphere in frustration whereas the Sweden keeper was swarmed by her teammates.

“I had a really good feeling before the game,” Musovic stated. “Once again, I’m extremely proud of the girls. Many people out there didn’t think that (win) was possible.”