United States Women’s National Team hopes of retaining the Women’s World Cup came to an agonising end on Sunday against Sweden via penalty shootouts.
After a pulsating 90-minutes of regulation and a half-hour of extra time between the top-ranked U.S. and third-ranked Sweden, it came down to a penalty kick shootout.
But it was the final penalty shot – by Sweden that was almost stopped by U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher, yet the ball barely crossed the line.
Of course, that was it – end of the road for the four-time champion (U.S.) who are already on their way home – the team’s earliest-ever exit from the Women’s World Cup.
USA forward Trinity Rodman created chance after chance as she returned to the starting lineup against Sweden in a round of 16 match at the Women’s World Cup on August 06, 2023.
It was the seventh time these two squads faced each other at the WWC – the most in tournament history. Though this is their first-ever matchup in a knockout round. Going in, the U.S. had a 4W-1D-1L record.
On a chilly 52-degree night in Melbourne, Australia, these two played like the heavyweights they are in women’s international soccer.
Against number-three Sweden, the top-ranked U.S. had more energy, precision and discipline than in previous matches at this Women’s World Cup.
Both teams had their chances early on
U.S. forward Trinity Rodman navigated through the Sweden defense and threaded a powerful shot in the 18th minute and another in the 27th minute. Off a U.S. corner kick in the 33rd, captain Lindsey Horan’s header skipped off the crossbar. In the first half, U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher punched away two dangerous Swedish corner kicks.
It was easily the best first half for the U.S. at this tournament – as the Americans dissected Sweden’s defense to create one scoring chance after another. But at halftime it was 0-0. Still, this was the U.S. team that had been absent in the first three matches.
The U.S. began the second half how it ended the first. Controlling play and crafting offensive opportunities. Horan powered a strike in the 53rd minute that Swedish keeper Zećira Mušović someway, somehow managed to deflect out of the goal.
Despite the U.S. dominance during regulation, neither side scored — which forced a half-hour of extra time. Looking for a spark, the U.S. subbed Alex Morgan out of the game in the 99th minute, replacing her with Megan Rapinoe. Both sides had chances in extra time – but they didn’t score.
So it led to the most frustrating way to end a soccer game: penalty kicks.
The U.S. had been here before at the Women’s World Cup – winning three previous times in a shootout. But never has the squad faced a keeper like Sweden’s Zećira Mušović who shined with save after save after save to stop the vaunted U.S. offense.
