USA finally showed up against Sweden – but it was too little, too late

The US take in their penalty shootout defeat to Sweden at the Women’s World Cup. Photograph: Hamish Blair/AP

As Sweden took a victory lap and Abba’s Dancing Queen blared through the night at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Alyssa Naeher stood with her hands on her hips in disbelief. It took several minutes – what felt like an eternity – for VAR to confirm that the ball had crossed the line on the final penalty of the game.

It was almost impossible to tell with the naked eye whether the Swedish forward Lina Hurtig’s shot had crossed the line, after not one but two swats from the USA goalkeeper. An incredulous Naeher threw her hands in the air and yelled to her goalkeeping coach, Philip Poole, appearing to believe the video proved she had saved the penalty.