(Melbourne) The United States, double title holders, were eliminated from the Women’s World Cup in the round of 16 by Sweden (0-0, 5-4 tab), Sunday in Melbourne, after a session of bouncing shots on goal.
After star Megan Rapinoe failed, young Sophia Smith missed the target on the Americans’ qualifying ball on her team’s fifth attempt.
Two laps later, Lina Hurtig gave victory to her selection, after validation by video arbitration (VAR) to verify that the ball had indeed crossed the line.
American goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who, extremely rare, had scored a little earlier, as the sixth shooter, was well on the trajectory, but she missed a handful of millimeters to prevent the shot from returning.
This crazy scenario seals the exit through the back door of Team USA, on the podium of the eight editions disputed so far, of a tournament which confirms the progress of its rivals at its expense.
The treble, a feat no team, women or men alike, has yet achieved, was too high a mountain for the world-ranked No. 1 nation to face increasingly intense competition.
Paradoxically, the Americans had their finest performance of the competition against Sweden, three out of three wins so far, after a disappointing group stage.
But the collective of Vlatko Andonovski, who bet on youth in the absence of the backbone of the titled generation in 2015 and 2019, between retirements and injuries, lacked consistency and efficiency against a team more polished.
The ambitious Sweden, the third nation in the world, will play against Japan on Friday in Auckland, for a place in the last four.
The reigning Olympic vice-champions, often well placed but never winners, rely on an iron defense, embodied by their goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, who delivered a great game, with 11 saves.
The Chelsea player released two decisive parries, on a cannon recovery from Lindsey Horan (53rd) and a header from Alex Morgan (89th), which kept her teammates afloat, folded in front of their goal.
She did it again during extra time, again against Morgan (96th), then Lynn Williams (101st).
The scenario is terrible for the Americans, criticized from all sides before the meeting, who raised their heads on the ground.
Horan, with his header, thought he was fooling Musovic, but his header found the crossbar, following a corner (34th).
Star scorers Alex Morgan and Sophia Smith, named the best player in the American championship last season, did not bring the expected knockout blow, exposing their teammates to a return from the Swedes at the end of the match.
Team USA finally cracked on penalties, like in the final of the 2011 edition which they lost against Japan.