World No. 1 US out of FIFA Women’s World Cup after Sweden wins on penalties

Lina Hurtig scored within the seventh spherical of penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes to elevate Sweden previous the United States in a knockout spherical match on the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia.

In the highest of the seventh spherical, Kelley O’Hara chipped the ball off the precise publish and Hurtig then scored, regardless of goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher getting a contact on the ball. The play was reviewed to ensure the ball crossed the road, and it did by lower than an inch.

Third-ranked Sweden, which gained the penalties 5-4, performs Japan within the quarterfinal on Friday in Auckland, New Zealand.

The United States, which was ranked No. 1 on the planet, had reached the semifinals within the earlier eight World Cups, by no means ending decrease than third place. The Americans had been bidding for an unprecedented third straight title, a feat no males’s or ladies’s staff has executed earlier than.

“I know we were criticized for different moments in the group stage,” U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski informed FOX Sports after the match. “I think we came out today and showed we’re all about the game, showed the grit, the resilience of fight, the bravery. They showed everything that we could to win the game and, unfortunately, soccer can be cruel sometimes.”

The participant of the match was Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, who made 11 saves on the 22 American photographs. Sweden had 9 photographs, just one on course.

Musovic saved the match scoreless in regulation with two nice second-half saves, together with a diving cease to her proper on an Alex Morgan header within the 89th minute.

In the 53rd minute, Musovic made a reactionary save together with her left hand to disclaim Lindsey Horan’s shot that was focused for the decrease proper nook.

Musovic made stops on Morgan and Lynn Williams within the first 10 minutes of additional time.

The lone save for Naeher was within the eighty fifth minute on a 10-yard shot by Sofia Jakobsson.

The U.S. was dominant in all places however the scoreboard within the first half. The Americans had 62 p.c of possession (82 p.c within the closing quarter-hour) which led to 5 photographs, two on course, in comparison with one off-target attempt for Sweden.

Trinity Rodman was dynamic on the precise aspect, forcing saves by Musovic within the 18th and twenty seventh minutes however the most effective probability for both staff got here within the thirty fourth when Horan’s header from an Andi Sullivan nook kick skimmed the highest of the bar.

Andonovski stated that regardless of the loss, the most effective is but to come back for this younger United States staff.

“Five players that started the game are the first time in the tournament,” he stated. “These are players that will be here for years to come, for tournaments to come. This tournament is a great experience for them, and I hink they’ll dominate the next one together. …

“This staff has bought a really vivid future and I’m glad we may we may give him the chance that we did.”

–Field Level Media/Reuters