After more than 120 scoreless minutes, the United States and Sweden needed a penalty shootout to determine a winner.
The USWNT continued its long goalscoring drought, battling to a 0-0 draw against the Swedes after extra time in a Round of 16 clash. Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic was spectacular, denying a host of chances to keep the Americans off the board.
In the shootout, Sweden missed back-to-back penalties to give the Americans had a golden opportunity to seal a victory. But with everything on the line, Sophia Smith sent her effort wide of the right post.
That gave the Swedes a lifeline, and they took full advantage. They scored two consecutive spot kicks with their backs against the wall, and when Kelley O'Hara struck the right post, it gave them a chance to steal a shocking victory.
Sweden's Lina Hurtig stepped up to take the crucial penalty and sent her effort to the right of American keeper Alyssa Naeher. Naeher got two hands on it, but somehow the ball made it through. After a moment of confusion, a VAR check revealed the ball made it over the line by a fraction of a millimeter, giving Sweden a memorable win.
The most incredible end to a match, I've ever seen. Holders and favourites, #USA BEATEN by #Sweden by penalty shootout, sudden death stage, decided by VAR. Unbelievable!#WomensWorldCup #FIFAWomensWorldCup2023 #worldcup2023 #uswnt #swe pic.twitter.com/JYVwo6qlL1
— You deserve a holiday (@Holi_blog) August 6, 2023
It was a cruel defeat for the USWNT, but also one that could have easily been avoided. The Americans have now crashed out in the Round of 16 for the first time ever. Before this year, their worst finish at a FIFA Women's World Cup was third place.
Here's a look at how the decisive penalty shootout played out:
USWNT vs Sweden penalties
USA 1 - Sweden X
Midfielder Andi Sullivan steps up and slots it into the bottom left corner.
USA 1 - Sweden 1
Fridolina Rolfo calmly strikes it into the right side of the netting to level it up.
USA 2 - Sweden 1
Lindsey Horan confidently smashes it past Musovic, who went the right way but couldn't keep the shot out.
USA 2 - Sweden 2
Elin Rubensson places it in exactly the same spot as Horan, sending a powerful effort past USA keeper Alyssa Naeher.
USA 3 - Sweden 2
With her very first touch of this year's World Cup, Kristie Mewis fires a shot into the top left corner to make it three out of three for the United States.
USA 3 - Sweden 2
Nathalie Bjorn skies her attempt over the crossbar, and Sweden has blinked first. 3-2 to the Americans.
USA 3 - Sweden 2
Megan Rapinoe makes exactly the same mistake, sending her effort over the bar and into the stands. The USA still holds a 3-2 lead.
USA 3 - Sweden 2
Rebecka Blomqvist tries to put her shot to Naeher's left, but the American keeper is equal to it and parries it away. The United States will have a chance to win it with the next penalty.
USA 3 - Sweden 2
Sophia Smith steps up to try and win it, but she skews her shot wide of the right post. A shocking miss with everything on the line.
USA 3 - Sweden 3
Hanna Bennison needs to score to keep Sweden alive. She steps up and rifles a shot past Naeher to do just that. Nerves of steel from the 20-year-old.
USA 4 - Sweden 3
Naeher will be the next one to step up for the Americans. Goalkeeper versus goalkeeper! She takes a deep breath and sends it straight down the middle with power to beat Musovic. Very coolly done.
USA 4 - Sweden 4
Once again, Sweden needs to score to stay alive. Magdalena Ericsson will take it, and she strikes it beautifully into the top right corner. Naeher dove the right way, but she couldn't do anything about it.
USA 4 - Sweden 4
Kelley O'Hara came on as a late sub, and she will now try to retake the lead for the Americans in her fourth World Cup. But her shot strikes the right post and bounces away. Stunning.
USA 4 - Sweden 5
Sweden now has a chance to seal a victory. Lina Hurtig will take the crucial spot kick. She strikes her effort to the right of Naeher, who gets two hands on it. But somehow the shot made it through the American keeper, and it may have crossed the line! A check is ongoing... and it's a goal! Sweden wins it in bizarre fashion! Unbelievable!
After review, the penalty is good and Sweden wins 🇸🇪
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 6, 2023
🇺🇸:✅✅✅❌❌✅❌
🇸🇪:✅✅❌❌✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/PbidlCoiWd
