US lose to Sweden 5-4 on penalties, make earliest Women's World Cup exit ever

Sweden knocked the United States out of the World Cup 54 on penalties after a scoreless draw at the Womens World CupLina Hurtig converted the last penalty for Sweden US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher fruitlessly argued she had saved Hurtigs attempt but it was ruled over the lineThe United States who have a record four World Cup titles overall and were favourites to win this edition got eliminated in the Round of 16 for the first time in team historyThe Americans worst finish had been third place three timesldquoI am proud of the women on the field said US coach Vlatko AndonovskildquoI know we were criticized for the way we played and for different moments in the group stage I think we came out today and showed the grit the resilience the fight The bravery showed we did everything we could to win the game And unfortunately soccer can be cruel sometimesrdquoIt was the first match of this World Cup to go to extra timeTwotime World Cup participant Julie Ertz was in tears after the matchldquoWe didnt put anything in the back of the netrdquo she sobbedldquoThe penalties was tough as well Its just emotional because its probably my last game ever Its just tough Its an emotional time It obviously sucks Penalties are the worstrdquoAlso Read Brazils Marta exits World Cup in tearsIt was the fourth time a US match at the World Cup went to extra time All of the three previous matches went to penalties including the 2011 final won by Japan The US won on penalties in a 2011 quarterfinal match against Brazil and in the 1999 final at the Rose Bowl against ChinaSweden knocked the United States out of the 2016 Olympics in the quarterfinals on penaltiesSweden have reached quarterfinals and will play Japan the 2011 World Cup winners who defeated Norway 31 on Saturday nightSweden have never won a major international tournament either the World Cup or the Olympics The closest the team has come is World Cup runnerup in 2003 They finished in third in the 1999 2011 and 2019 editions and won silver medals in the last two OlympicsThe Americans struggled through group play with just four goals in three matches They were nearly eliminated last Tuesday by firsttimers Portugal but eked out a 00 draw to fall to second in their group for just the second time at a World CupSweden won all three of their group games including a 50 rout of Italy in its final group match Coach Peter Gerhardsson made nine lineup changes for the match resting his starters in anticipation of the United StatesIt was tense from the opening whistleNaeher punched the ball away from a crowded goal on an early Sweden corner kick Trinity Rodmans shot from distance in the 18th minute was easily caught by Musovic who stopped another chance by Rodman in the 27thHorans header off Andi Sullivans corner in the 34th hit the crossbar and skipped over the goal Horan was on target in the 53rd minute but Musovic dove to push it wide Horan crouched to the field in frustration while Musovic was swarmed by her teammatesThe United States were without Rose Lavelle who picked up her second yellow card of the tournament in the group stage finale against Portugal and had to sit out against SwedenIn Lavelles absence Andonovski started Emily Sonnett who was making her first start for the team since 2022 The addition of Sonnett allowed Horan to move up higher in the midfieldSweden pressed in the final 10 minutes of regulation Sofia Jakobsson who came in as a substitute in the 81st minute nearly scored in the 85th but Naeher managed to catch it for her first save of the tournamentNeither Caroline Seger nor Megan Rapinoe started the match but Rapinoe came in as a sub for Alex Morgan in the first overtime periodSeger whose 235 appearances for Sweden are the most for any woman in Europe was on the bench to start the match The 38yearold has been struggling with a calf problem all year and trained alone in the two days of practice leading into the showdown with the USRapinoe also 38 previously announced that this would be her last World Cup She has taken on a smaller role for the Americans in her final tournament She was a substitute in the United States first and third games of group play and didnt get off the bench in the middle match She made her 200th appearance for the national team at the World CupWith AP inputs