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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
SI Staff

USWNT Eliminated By Sweden for Worst Finish at Women's World Cup

USWNT Sweden United States World Cup

After barely scraping by in group play, the U.S. women’s national team took on familiar foe Sweden in the round of 16 at the Women’s World Cup. The U.S. put together its most complete performance yet in the tournament Sunday morning ET, but it wasn't enough as it fell to the Swedes on penalty kicks. 

Despite the U.S. having the advantage in possession and chances created, goalkeeper Zećira Mušović was the difference maker for Sweden, stopping chance after chance from the USWNT. The game remained scoreless at full time and again after extra time. Sweden then advanced 5–4 on PKs to move on to the quarterfinals. 

Alyssa Naeher had a standout performance herself and even converted on a penalty kick, but ultimately came up short on the final PK that barely snuck over the goal line. 

This round-of-16 loss is the worst World Cup finish for the USWNT. Previously, third place was the U.S.'s worst finish. 

Below are the highlights from the game. 

Penalty Kicks

  • Lina Hurtig with the chance to win it for Sweden: It looked like Naeher makes the save on the line but VAR confirms that it was a goal. Sweden wins and will face Japan in the quarterfinals.  
  • Kelley O'Hara up: she bangs it off the post and misses. 
  • Eriksson up next: goal. It's tied 4–4. 
  • Naeher takes the next penalty for goalkeeper vs. goalkeeper: And she scores. 4–3 for the U.S. 
  • Bennison evens it up at 3–3. 
  • Smith misses the net. Still 3–2 for the U.S. as Sweden prepares for its fifth PK attempt. 
  • Naeher makes the save on Blomqvist. 
  • Rapinoe also misses high. 
  • Bjorn misses high, 3–2 for the U.S.
  • Mewis makes it 3 for 3 for the U.S. 
  • Rubennson ties it up for Sweden.
  • Lindsey Horan next: goal. 
  • Rolfo steps up for Sweden and scores.. 
  • Andi Sullivan takes the first PK and scores. 

Extra Time

  • Still scoreless after extra time. We're heading to penalty kicks. 
  • Ertz is given a yellow card for a foul in the 119th minute, but the U.S. muscles the ball out of danger on the free kick. Shortly after, O’Hara comes in for Emily Fox and Kristie Mewis for Sonnett. 
  • Rebecka Blomqvist subs in for Blackstenius in the 112th minute. This leaves one sub for Sweden, while the U.S. has three. 
  • The U.S. continues to get quality chances and Mušović continues to deny them. Meanwhile, Naeher has been aggressive on the other end, coming off her line to attempt saves but not always making contact with the ball. This could be interesting if it goes to penalties. 
  • Both teams opt for substitutions: Hanna Bennison subs in for Filippa Angeldahl in the 97th minute, while Megan Rapinoe subs in for Morgan in the 99th minute. 
  • Morgan finds the ball among Sweden’s defense and gets a chance with a very narrow angle. Mušović still on her A-game. 

Second Half

  • It's still scoreless after 90 minutes of play. The U.S. continues to find numerous opportunities with a 13–6 shot advantage but still can't finish. Sweden maintained a bit more possession in the second half. We'll go to extra time to try to find a winner. 
  • Morgan gets a quality chance in the 89th minute when a cross from Williams finds her for a header, but Mušović makes another outstanding save. 
  • Sweden makes a pair of substitutions in the 81st minute, with Sofia Jakobsson coming in for Kosovare Asllani and Hurtig for Johanna Kaneryd.
  • After a hard challenge from Morgan on Angeldahl, Sweden gets a free kick that goes deep into the box but Naeher comes down safely with the ball. 
  • Lynn Williams subs in for Rodman, who the broadcast says has been sick the last few days, in the 66th minute.
  • Horan gets another great chance in the 53rd minute when a low cross finds her in the box. She shoots toward the top corner but Mušović makes the save. 
  • Asllani is given a yellow card when trying to block a pass and sliding into Ertz.

First Half

  • It's scoreless at the half and for Sweden that's probably a relief after the U.S. dominated possession. The USWNT has a 5–1 shot advantage, and the changes at midfield are working: Sonnett has completed 89% of her shots, Sullivan has completed 91%. 
  • Horan gets a great chance on a corner kick in the 34th minute, with her header hitting the crossbar.  
  • Sonnett, who has experience playing defensive midfield for the OL Reign this season, has helped shore up the Rose Lavelle-less midfield for the U.S. in the first half hour. 
  • So far the U.S. seems more composed than the last time it played. A few early chances show more chemistry in the final third, and Trinity Rodman is eager to score now that she's back in the starting lineup. But Sweden is no stranger to the U.S. and has been able to find chances of its own, including a couple of corner kicks, which have been lethal for them so far at this World Cup. 
  • Vlatko Andonovski makes a tactical change, with Sonnett paired with Sullivan in midfield, Horan more advanced with Sophia Smith and Rodman, with Morgan up front.  
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