After a scoreless draw at the Women’s World Cup, Sweden eliminated the United States 5-4 on penalties thanks to Lina Hurtig’s successful penalty attempt.
Alyssa Naeher, the American goalie, futilely claimed Hurtig’s attempt had been stopped, but it was determined to be beyond the line. As the Swedes rejoiced, “Dancing Queen” by ABBA was played in the stadium.
For the first time in team history, the United States, which has won a record-tying four World Cups overall and was attempting to win an unprecedented third straight championship, was eliminated in the Round of 16.
It was the first World Cup game to require extra time.
It was the fourth extra period in a World Cup match involving the United States. All three of the previous games, including the final in 2011 that Japan won, were decided on penalties. Both the 1999 Rose Bowl championship game against China and the 2011 quarterfinal victory over Brazil were decided by penalties.
In the quarterfinals of the 2016 Olympics, Sweden eliminated the United States on penalties.
Sweden advances to the quarterfinals where it will face 2011 World Cup champion Japan. On Saturday night, Japan defeated Norway 3-1.
A major international competition, like as the World Cup or the Olympics, has never been won by Sweden. The team’s World Cup runner-up finish in 2003 represents its closest achievement. In the 1999, 2011, and 2019 competitions, they came in third, and in the most recent Olympics, they took home silver.
With only four goals in three games, the Americans had a difficult time getting through group play. Last Tuesday, they were in danger of being eliminated by Portugal, but they managed to eke out a 0-0 draw, falling to second in their group for simply the second time in World Cup history.
In the first half alone, the Americans outshot Sweden 5-1 while controlling possession and shooting at a higher rate. Zecira Musovic, who made six stops in regulation, stopped a second-half blast and a header by Lindsey Horan that had struck the crossbar in the first half.
Sweden defeated Italy 5-0 in its final group match en route to winning all three of its matches. In preparation for the United States, head coach Peter Gerhardsson rested nine starters in the lineup for the game.
From the first whistle, it was tense.
On a first-quarter corner kick by Sweden, Naeher pushed the ball away from a crowded goal. The Swedes scored three goals against Italy from set pieces.
Musovic comfortably blocked Trinity Rodman’s long-range attempt in the 18th minute and Rodman’s subsequent attempt in the 27th minute.
In the 34th minute, Horan’s header on a corner kick by Andi Sullivan hit the crossbar but missed the net. In the 53rd minute, Horan had the ball in the net, but Musovic leapt to deflect it. Horan squatted down on the field in anger as Musovic was surrounded by her teammates.
Rose Lavelle, who received her second caution of the competition in the group stage championship match against Portugal and was forced to sit out against Sweden, was absent for the United States.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski of the United States started Emily Sonnett, she was making her initial start for the squad in 2022, in Lavelle’s place. Horan was able to move up higher in the midfield thanks to the presence of Sonnett.
In the closing ten minutes of regulation, Sweden pushed. In the 85th minute, Sofia Jakobsson, who entered as a substitution in the 81st, came close to scoring, but Naeher was able to stop it for her first save of the competition.
Megan Rapinoe entered the game as a substitute for Alex Morgan in the first overtime period despite neither Caroline Seger nor Megan Rapinoe having started the match.
Seger began the game on the bench, having made 235 appearances for Sweden, the most of any woman in Europe. The 38-year-old has been dealing with a calf issue all year and trained by himself during the two practice sessions prior to the match against the United States.
Rapinoe, who is 38 as well, has previously said that this will be her final World Cup. In her final tournament, she has a reduced role for the Americans. She entered the game as a substitute in the United States’ first and third group games but remained on the bench in the middle game. At the World Cup, she made her 200th national team appearance.