Sweden celebrate winning their round of 16 game against the USA. Photo credit: FIFA Women’s World Cup via Twitter.
Sweden reached the Quarter Finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in remarkable fashion after beating two-time defending champions United States in a dramatic penalty shootout in Melbourne after the game finished goalless.
The first five penalties in the shootout were all scored to give the United States a 3-2 lead, before Nathalie Bjorn was the first to miss. The champions failed to take advantage as Megan Rapinoe and Sophia Smith both missed in between Rebecka Blomqvist’s effort being saved. Had Smith scored, she would’ve put the champions through.
Hannah Bennison took the shootout to sudden death before goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and Magdalena Eriksson both scored. Kelley O’Hara then missed her spot kick before the most extraordinary of finishes.
Lina Hurtig stepped up with the chance to win it for Sweden. Naeher got a hand to it and thought she had kept her side in it, but goal line technology ruled that the ball had crossed the line and the Scandanavians were through.
SWEDEN ARE THROUGH TO THE QUARTER FINALS 🇸🇪
The moment referee Stéphanie Frappart tells Lina Hurtig that her goal has gone over the line meaning that Sweden dumps out defending champions USA 5-4 on penalties! pic.twitter.com/FhuUv8Oobs
— Sporting Her (@SportingHer) August 6, 2023
It brought the United States’ eight year reign as world champions to an end and was the first time they have been beaten at a Women’s World Cup since the 2011 final against Japan – which was also decided on penalties.
If there was going to be a goal in the game, United States always looked more likely to get it. Vlatko Adanovski’s side had 11 shots on target to Sweden’s one, but found keeper Zecira Mušović in inspired form. Mušović was awarded player of the match after an impressive performance, which kept the USA off the scoresheet.
Trinity Rodman got the first clear chance of the game from just outside the area, but her effort was straight at Musovic, while captain Lindsay Horan’s header from a corner hit the crossbar. The closest Sweden came in the first half was a shot from Stina Blackstenius that was blocked by Julie Ertz.
Horan had the first effort of the second half from Alex Morgan’s flick on, while Sophia Smith and Emily Sonnett also had opportunities to break the deadlock. The first change came near the midway point of the half as Rodman was replaced by Lynn Williams.
Sweden made a double substitution with eight minutes of normal time remaining as Hurtig and Sofia Jakobsson replaced Kosovare Asllani and Johanna Kaneryd. A couple of minutes later, Jakobsson got what proved to be the Swedes’ only shot on target which was parried by Naeher.
Towards the end of normal time and into extra time, Morgan was twice denied by Musovic, who was also forced to save from Williams, while Rapinoe’s follow up was blocked as the United States continued to apply pressure in search of a breakthrough.
Sophia Smith was the latest to force a save, while Julie Ertz was unable to get any power on the shot from Rapinoe’s resulting corner. Kristie Mewis and O’Hara were introduced in the closing seconds with penalties in mind, which proved to have mixed results.
After the shootout, Naeher attempted to appeal the decision to allow Hurtig’s penalty but it was to no avail as Sweden celebrated a famous victory and they will now go on to face Japan in the Quarter Finals in Auckland on Friday.
To read more Women’s World Cup-related articles, click here.
Follow Sporting Her on social media: Instagram // Twitter // Facebook
