Title: United States’ Unprecedented Early Exit: Sweden Knocks Out Reigning Champions in Penalty Shootout
Date: [Date]
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The United States’ hopes of clinching an unprecedented third consecutive title in the Women’s World Cup were dashed on Sunday as they suffered an early exit in the round of 16. Ending in a scoreless draw in regulation and extra time, Sweden sealed the victory with a 5-4 win on penalty kicks.
The round of 16 match witnessed the Americans’ best performance of this World Cup, yet it proved insufficient to overcome the two-time defending champions. Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith, and Kelley O’Hara missed their penalty kicks, allowing Lina Hurtig to convert the decisive spot-kick that sealed Sweden’s victory.
“I mean, this is like a sick joke. For me personally, this is like dark comedy that I missed a penalty,” said an emotionally-charged Rapinoe. The American team fought hard until the end, with goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher arguing in vain that she had saved Hurtig’s attempt. As the celebration erupted among the Swedish players, the American team found solace in reflecting on the fight they put up against their opponents.
Notably, U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher praised Sweden’s goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, who made an incredible 11 saves to deny the United States a spot in the quarterfinals. The U.S. team, four-time winners of the World Cup, had never finished below third place in previous tournaments.
Reflecting on the loss, U.S. player Julie Ertz expressed her emotions, stating, “We didn’t put anything in the back of the net. 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 Americans’ lackluster performance throughout the group stage had already set the stage for disappointment. However, they saved their best game for last against Sweden, only to see the outcome determined by a penalty shootout.
Despite their early exit, U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski applauded the grit and resilience displayed by his team. He said, “I think we came out today and showed the grit, the resilience, and the fight. The bravery showed we did everything we could to win the game. And, unfortunately, soccer can be cruel sometimes.”
This is not the first time the United States has faced a penalty shootout in the World Cup. In 2011, they lost the final in a similar fashion to Japan, but they emerged victorious against Brazil in the 2011 quarterfinals. Additionally, they claimed victory in the 1999 final against China.
Sweden, who ousted the United States from the 2016 Olympics in the quarterfinals on penalties, is set to play against Japan in the quarterfinals. Sweden has never won a major global tournament but has consistently placed among the top, coming in third in the 1999, 2011, and 2019 editions of the World Cup and winning silver medals in the last two Olympics.
The match also marked the end of Megan Rapinoe’s international career. Rapinoe, the Golden Boot winner of the 2019 tournament, announced her retirement after this World Cup. Though she had a diminished role in her final tournament, her presence on the field for the remaining minutes wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the game.
Captain Alex Morgan expressed her devastation, saying, “Just devastated. It feels like a bad dream. 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 U.S. team struggled in the group stage, scoring only four goals in three matches. Despite their challenging journey throughout the tournament, they exhibited dominance against Sweden, outshooting them 5-1 in the first half. However, their efforts were in vain as Musovic made six regulation saves to keep the Americans at bay.
Looking ahead, Sweden midfielder Kosovare Asllani had faith in the U.S. team, stating, “They will come back for sure, they have so much quality on their team. This defeat will not take them down. I expect them to be ready for the next World Cup.”
All eyes now turn to the upcoming quarterfinal match between Sweden and Japan, as both teams compete to advance further in the tournament.